Fueled By Pump Prices, NV Senators Back Temporary Halt Of Federal Gas Tax

By Michael Lyle, Nevada Current

February 9, 2022

Amid pressure to address rising costs, Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen are supporting a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax as a way to lower prices at the pump.

The Gas Prices Relief Act, introduced by Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, both Democrats, would suspend the 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax until Jan. 1, 2023.

Both Nevada senators signed on to the legislation.

“We must take action to lower costs for hardworking families by addressing the high cost of gas in Nevada and across our nation,” Rosen said in a statement. “This commonsense legislation will directly help Nevadans make ends meet by bringing down costs at the gas pump.”

According to AAA, the average price of gas in Nevada is $3.876, slightly higher than the national average at $3.469.

County specific data shows Washoe County pays the highest amount in the state at $4.187.

“This is important legislation that will help us lower costs for Nevada families,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “I’m committed to finding solutions that bring our families some much-needed relief at the pump and help them get ahead.”

Since 1993, money garnered from the federal gas tax has gone into a trust fund to help pay for public transit and highway construction.

The legislation would require the Department of the Treasury to make a general fund transfer to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent.

If passed, the measure would also require the Secretary of the Treasury to monitor the actions of gas and oil companies and encourage the department to take necessary steps to ensure consumers see savings.

Despite the fact that presidents have little to no control over gas prices, Nevada Republicans have attacked President Joe Biden and Democrats running for re-election in 2022, which includes Cortez Masto, for rising costs of gas.

The Gas Prices Relief Act isn’t the first attempt by Democrats to lower the cost of fuel.

In November, Biden authorized the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over several months in an attempt to lower prices.

The reserve is an emergency fuel source held by the Department of Energy that can prevent gas shortages and contend with price spikes following disruptive events such as natural disasters.

Nevada Current, a nonprofit, online source of political news and commentary, documents the policies, institutions and systems that affect Nevadans’ daily lives. The Current is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers.