Gov. Gibbons excluded from stimulus program

The Interim Finance Committee, a body that handles state money issues when the full Nevada Legislature is out of session, killed Gov. Jim Gibbons’ plan to handle disbursement of federal stimulus moneys out of his office.

Republican Gibbons wanted to create a new job in the governor’s office. It would have paid $122,000.

On a party-line vote, the IFC slid the post out of the governor’s office and into the state controller’s office. It also lowered the pay to a range of $60,000 to $90,000.

The controller’s office basically handles paying the state’s bills. Democrat Kim Wallin is serving her first term in the post.

The state is expected to receive more than $2 billion in stimulus funds.