CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio lashed out Wednesday at fellow Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, widening a political fissure between the Legislature and the administration as lawmakers meet in special session to try to fill a nearly $900 million budget hole.

In a statement read on the Senate floor, the longtime Reno lawmaker accused Gibbons of having "failing memory," being "misinformed," or "intentionally distorting the facts." Raggio was responding to a newspaper article in Wednesday's Reno Gazette-Journal in which Gibbons said Raggio didn't "show up" at most budget meetings held in the weeks leading up to the special session that started Tuesday.

Raggio said he attended at least eight meetings, and the governor was present at two.

"I don't know why he wants to pick a fight with me, unless it's for political reasons because I am supporting his primary opponent," Raggio, who's served in the Senate since 1973, said in his statement.

Asked afterward if he respects the governor, Raggio told reporters, "I respect the office, always will."

Daniel Burns, communications director for Gibbons, did not immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages seeking comment.

Raggio is backing Brian Sandoval, former state attorney general, assemblyman and federal judge, in the GOP gubernatorial race. Nevada's primary is June 8.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have been trying to find more money from casinos, mining and business groups to fill a deep void in education funding that school administrators say could result in thousands of teacher layoffs. Gibbons, a staunch no new tax proponent, has said he would allow fee increases only if they are supported by all those who pay them, but has threatened to veto any that don't have full endorsement.

Gibbons purchased a new, $15 veto stamp for the special session, after the stamp used a record 48 times during the 2009 session was donated to the Nevada State Museum.

While Democrats have a solid 28-14 majority in the Assembly — enough to override a veto, their edge in the Senate is 12-9. That means two Republican votes would be needed to pass the upper chamber by the required two-thirds majority for fee or tax hikes.

Tension between Raggio and the administration has been simmering. During a meeting earlier this week of the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee, Raggio questioned Budget Director Andrew Clinger over Gibbons' reversal to oppose fee increases the governor had originally proposed.

Robin Reedy, Gibbons chief of staff, intervened, telling the committee that the governor's position on fees and taxes was known, and that further questioning was a "frustrating waste of time."

Raggio shot back, "If you're looking at me, you're not going to tell me what kind of questions to ask."