Gas tax holiday impact in Nevada

Las Vegas (KSNV) — Single mom Paula Curtright says she decided to put her SUV in park and buy a second small hybrid car to cut costs.

“So, when you say, ‘did you decide not to go somewhere?’ No, I had to buy a whole new car. I had to get my parents to help me buy that because I could not afford the gas in this car because it was costing me $850.00 a month to fill.”

President Joe Biden feeling the pressure is now calling on Congress to pause the federal gas tax, temporarily reducing it by 18.4 cents per gallon.

“By suspending the tax for the next 90-days, we can bring down the price of gas and give families some relief,” said President Joe Biden during a conference Thursday.

However, current state law automatically raises fuel tax to compensate for a federal discount on motor vehicle fuel. So, as it stands, you wouldn’t benefit.

Representative Dina Titus voted in favor of the law back in 1997 and said there is a workaround.

“What we'd like to see, and I called on the governor and the legislature last March, and I agree with Senator Sotomayer on this, is to get rid of that law and allow the tax holiday to apply to the people in Nevada,” said the Nevada representative.

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Nevada republican senator James Settelmeyer echoed the same sentiment.

“We should go ahead and not only suspend the federal portion but the state and local municipality portion and use the surplus funds that the state of Nevada currently has. I believe it’s a billion dollars, and we can use that money to backfill taxes for road construction,” said Senator Sotomayer.

Even if it's by a few cents, drivers urge lawmakers to fight for Nevadans to benefit.

“Anything is good! .05 is good,” said one driver.

“Even if it saves a few cents, it's better than nothing, but not a great solution,” added another.

Titus says if the federal gas tax holiday passes, it will be up to Governor Steve Sisolak to hold a special session of the Nevada Legislature and amend it, so Nevadans to benefit.