Lombardo Slams Democrats’ Inaction Over Suspending Gas Tax

The latest pinch in Nevadans wallets is likely due to skyrocketing gas prices that are nearing record highs set in 2021. Yesterday, AA reported that gas prices have risen to $4.96 per gallon, up from $4.37 a month ago and a 35-cent increase in just one week. Today, AAA reports that Nevada’s average is now $5.01 per gallon. What a difference a day makes.

Sept. 7, 2023. Reno, NV. https://t.co/7ROeQguwOp pic.twitter.com/CkIzYvYLZT

— Nevada Globe (@NevadaGlobe) September 8, 2023

Last week in Reno, NV,  I watched the gage approach $100 to fill up my car and remembered that not too long ago, while “mean tweets” were dominating the news cycle, I was filling up for about half of what it costs today. Don’t get me started on the price of chicken. Yet, while the current administration plays chicken with Russia in a multi-billion-dollar-taxpayer-funded proxy war, AAA cites that, once again, Russia is to blame.

AAA cites a scale back in production by Russia and Saudi Arabia as causes for the spike in pricing along with “operational issues” at four California refineries. They also cite a decrease in demand. As one struggling mom told Channel 3 news, “I can’t take my kids out anywhere anymore unless it’s somewhere close,” said Chantia Scott, a Las Vegas resident. “Just because it’s too expensive to go anywhere.”

Yet, what also causes Nevada to maintain it’s 4th position as the state with the highest fuel costs is taxes, taxes enacted by Nevada Democrats like Rep. Dina Titus who in 1997 supported gas tax legislation–AB525–that automatically raised Nevada’s fuel tax by the exact amount of any reduction at the federal level.

A modicum of relief to government-caused inflation and skyrocketing gas prices was proposed by Governor Joe Lombardo in his Taxpayer Inflation Relief Act which would have temporarily suspended the gas tax for one year.

I proposed suspending Nevada’s gas tax in my Taxpayer Inflation Relief Act, but Democrats refused to even hear my bill.

Democrats weren’t interested in providing tax relief for Nevadans, and now we’re all paying the price. https://t.co/DnnMtnBscT

— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) September 19, 2023

Yet, the Democrat dominant legislature, led by Senator Nicole Cannizzaro and Assemblyman Steve Yeager refused to grant the legislation a hearing. Governor Lombardo rightfully called out Nevada Democrats on Twitter for their inaction noting that Nevadans are now “all paying the price” for their disinterest.

Last week, Georgia governor Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency over inflation and called out the Biden administration for inflationary spending. “While high prices continue to hit family budgets, hardworking Georgians deserve real relief and that’s why I signed an executive order today to deliver it directly to them at the pump,” Kemp said.

According to Governor Lombardo’s office, Nevada does not have the same code found in Georgia law which allows the Governor to suspend the gas tax through a state of emergency, so an emergency declaration would not change Governor Lombardo’s ability to end the gas tax.

Therefore, Nevadans will, once again, have to vote with their pocketbooks if they want tax relief at the pump or beyond.