Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Silver to a forward-thinking bill

The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.

WOODEN NICKEL: OK, Mother Nature that was so uncalled for. We were enjoying the sun and warmth. But you were quick to remind us not to put away the winter coats just yet. While the skiers and boarders are happy their season is extended, the gardeners are regretting planting this early. Thankfully this storm moved out as fast as it moved in. The 10-day forecast is calling for spring weather, so we will think about replanting ... maybe.

SILVER DOLLAR: To Senate Bill 286, which was introduced last week. The bill would reward state workers who come up with ideas to save the state money. The workers would receive a percentage of the savings. The rest would go to their agency and the general fund.

The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Dean Rhoads and Democratic Assemblyw-oman Debbie Smith, is the kind of forward thinking the state needs to get out of this economic funk. We were for this bill before when Rhoads presented it, and we support this one too.

WOODEN NICKEL: Out of more than 1,000 bills, some are bound to miss the mark. One of these bills is one that would allow gamblers to take games back to their hotel rooms on a smartphone device. We understand multitasking, but hitting the slots while enjoying dinner seems a bit excessive.

Gambling on the casino floor is one thing, but what happens when a parent takes the mobile device up to the family's hotel room jumps in the shower to prepare for a family evening out, and boom a couple hundred dollars later ... Nevada needs to stay a leader in the gaming industry, but we aren't sure this is the right path.