By Jon Ralston

Mon, May 5, 2008 (2:01 a.m.)

So here was the lead paragraph of an Associated Press story last week: “Nevada mines produced a record $5.4 billion worth of gold, silver and other minerals in 2007 compared with about $4.9 billion a year earlier, according to a state report released Friday.” So let me try to understand this: The state needs hundreds of millions of dollars. The mining companies are making a fortune. So amid all the talk of hiking gaming taxes, why is no one talking about raising mining taxes? What say you, governor? “This increase in the value of all mined commodities indicates Nevada’s mining companies continue to make a significant and growing contribution to the state’s economy,” Jim Gibbons told the AP. Oh. Nevermind.