New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is proposing to close nine (yes, nine) state parks and trim hours and at services at a host of others. Corzine isn't the most popular man in the Garden State right now, but he's not afraid to dole out strong fiscal medicine when it's necessary.

Anyway, Nevadans should take a good, hard look at what's happening in New Jersey, especially as our projected state budget deficit spirals toward $900 million. For one thing, basing Nevada's budget on projected (mostly) gambling revenues is now such an obvious folly that it would be nice -- however unlikely -- if the Lege took the bull by the horns and changed the budgeting process, to bring it in line with actual revenues received, not imaginary future ones. (And don't even think about proposing broader-based business tax or the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce will sic its Bonanza Road-kenneled attack dogs on you.)

Second, we could use someone with the huevos of a Corzine in the governor's mansion. Instead, we have a spineless twit whose notion of "leadership" is to simply slap one-size-fits-all budget cuts on everyone, as though all budgets and needs were equivalent. As others (primarily the much-maligned Erin Neff) have asked, why should mental-health services be placed on the same footing as the state's motor pool? Or, for that matter, with so much new casino capacity looming on the horizon, this hardly seems like the time to be slashing the regulatory budget.

But no, "Midnight Jim" Gibbons can no more learn the meaning of "prioritize" than he can find it in himself to face -- even by satellite link -- the victims of the Endoscopy Clinic of Southern Nevada scandal, let alone enforce his own impotent edicts. Give him a red putty nose and some floppy shoes, and his appropriate attire will be complete.

As for our state parks? Enjoy them while you still can, brother.

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