CARSON CITY — Senate Democrats, tiring of the longrunning negotiations over the state budget, held a news conference moments ago, accusing Gov. Jim Gibbons of holding education hostage.

It’s a charge designed for maximum effect, given that Gibbons was the person who conceived the “Education First” ballot initiative after accusing Democrats in 2003 of tying the schools budget to a tax increase to force Republicans to vote for it.

After showing an old Gibbons campaign commercial (”As governor, my top priority will be to make our schools better,” Gibbons says) Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus blasted the governor for doing exactly the opposite. She cited a Congressional Quarterly ranking that says Nevada is now 50th in the United States in education funding.

“We have gone from education first to education worst,” Titus said.

And the rub: Titus says Gibbons refuses to sign the education budget until lawmakers pass a bill preventing the scheduled expiration of a temporary cut in the modified business tax, which is scheduled to rise from 0.63 to 0.65 in July.

“He is the person who said you cannot hold education hostage and that is precisely what he’s doing, holding education hostage for his personal agenda,” Titus said.

Democrats have tried to get the governor to sign the education budget and then negotiate the business tax issue, but he’s refused, she said. Until he does sign the schools budget, she says she can’t see the Democratic caucus compromising on the tax issue.

“We’re back against the wall,” said state Sen. Bernice Matthews.

“We’ve backed all the way to 50th,” agreed state Sen. Mike Schneider.

We’re still waiting to get a word from Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, who has been negotiating all day with Gibbons.

UPDATE: Raggio just emerged from his office to tell reporters that, while he anticipated reaching a deal that would satisify everyone today, some sticking points remain.

“I’m disappointed,” Raggio said, adding, “The more people decide to get irritated about it, the less chance there is for success.”

He wouldn’t say to whom he was referring, but we’re guessing it was Titus. We’re smart that way.

With that, Raggio left, which means everybody picks up in the morning. Ah, democracy.