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In business gibbons resisted settlement overtures coin flip, From page 7 Clarifying what that footnote meant is at the heart of the pending case. Representatives for the Nevada Resort Association first approached former Gov. Jim Gibbons, Sandoval���s predecessor, to reach a settlement, according to former administration officials and lawmakers. But his administration, which had an often frosty relationship with the political establishment, resisted overtures from the industry. In a 2008 special session, soon after the Nevada Supreme Court decision in favor of the casinos, Gibbons tried to clarify the law in the state���s favor. The Assembly passed the bill unanimously, but lobbyists with the Nevada Resort Association helped to quietly kill it in the Senate, where it never received a vote. Since Sandoval came into office in 2011, industry lobbyists, some with longtime relationships with the former federal judge, have tried again to reach a settlement. And that���s where the tax debate gets political. Gaming���s influence Gaming is the most influential industry in Nevada. Casinos in 2012 gave twice as much in political contributions to Nevada state candidates as the next highest group, lawyers and lobbyists, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, a nonpartisan, non- profit organization that tracks state spending. Gaming companies and executives donated $410,000 to Sandoval���s political action committee last year, about half of the total he raised. But gaming companies also gave prodigiously to Democratic candidates and organizations. MGM Resorts International, Boyd Gaming, Station Casinos and Caesars Entertainment all gave tens of thousands of dollars to the Nevada Democratic Party in 2012, according to campaign finance records. On top of that, gaming companies have their left flank covered by the Culinary Union, a key constituency for Democratic lawmakers. In the case pending before the Nevada Supreme Court, in which Boyd is suing the state for its rebate, the Culinary Union filed an amicus brief in support of Boyd. When gaming companies and the Culinary Union are together, they present a mighty political front. Any settlement on comped meals with the governor would also require legislation, gaming lobbyists said. Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the Legislature should have a say before any agreement is reached. The gaming industry ���is very powerful ��� and rightly so,��� he said, pointing to its tax contributions to the state and the fact that it���s the state���s biggest employer. ���We should look upon them favorably. But we can���t give them a free ride.��� development retail company expanding in nlv By Eli Segall���staff writer The parent company of discount retailers T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods is expanding its North Las Vegas distribution center. The TJX Cos., which operates a 700,000-square-foot distribution facility at Lone Mountain Road and Lamb Boulevard, bought 50 acres of nearby property in January for about $7.4 million. Company officials had been in contract to buy the land since August but were waiting for City Hall to approve plans that would allow the expansion, said Commerce Real Estate Solutions Director Leo Biedermann, a broker for TJX. The North Las Vegas City Council in January approved TJX���s plan to remove portions of nearby Smiley and Lincoln roads to accommodate the expansion. Other details of the project were not immediately available. A spokeswoman for the Framingham, Mass., company declined to comment. The Las Vegas Valley has six Marshalls locations, six T.J. Maxx stores and three HomeGoods locations. THE INDUSTRY���S MOST IMPORTANT BAR, NIGHTCLUB & BEVERAGE EVENT OF THE YEAR! Bringing together more than 34,000 industry professionals Connect with 600+ exhibitors ��� More than 75+ conference sessions ��� Nightly industry networking events Come see Jon Taffer, star and co-executive producer of Spike TV���s ���Bar Rescue��� and many other celebrities! Go to www.ncbshow.com for more information today! | 4 MARCH 2013 20130304_VI07_F.indd 13 | 13 2/28/13 4:13:06 PM