Governor Jim Gibbons held a news conference Friday in Sparks, Nevada, where he announced he would defy an earlier decision made by a state board by creating his own stimulus czar position.

Gibbons recently asked the Nevada Interim Finance Committee to create a new cabinet level position in his office to oversee the distribution and reporting of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The IFC instead assigned the position to State Controller Kim Wallin's office, and reduced the roll to an accounting position.

Gibbons Friday issued an executive order to overturn the IFC's directive, while he questioned the constitutionality of the IFC and its decision.

Also during the speech, Gibbons challenged the legislature to question his authority as governor saying: "I will leave it to the Nevada Legislature to determine if they wish to waste taxpayer time and money in an effort in usurping my constitutional responsibilities."

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford responded to Gibbons' comments Friday afternoon.
"After a year of him not being engaged and not providing leadership or solutions for this state, how can we trust him with $2 billion dollars?" Horsford said.

Horsford said he would not fight the governor's executive order to create the stimulus czar position.

Gibbons does have the support of Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio.

"I think the governor is acting appropriately," Raggio said. "I don't think he had any choice. The action by the IFC in not honoring the governor's request was inappropriate. I think it was strictly partisan and it was a slap at the governor, and that shouldn't be involved."

Gibbons said the new position would be paid for with ARRA funds.