Beers seeks special session to kill tax on gasoline
Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005 | 11:28 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Sen. Bob Beers, a candidate for the GOP nomination for Nevada governor, today suggested a special session of the Legislature be called to eliminate the state tax on gasoline to help Nevada motorists.
Beers, R-Las Vegas, said he called Gov. Kenny Guinn to convene a special session or to issue an executive order to scrap the 17.65 cents per gallon gasoline tax until mid-November.
"We need to provide relief for taxpayers and for their pocketbooks," he said.
The move Beers is suggesting is not without precedent. Georgia already has suspended its gasoline tax collections in an effort to help motorists.
Beers said the suspension of the gasoline tax in Nevada would cost the state about $42.5 million in collections. That money goes to build highways and support the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
Beers would supplant that loss with money from the state's "rainy day" fund that has $159 million in it and is expected to rise to $194 million by June 2007.
There was no immediate response from the governor's office.
The tax imposed on gasoline by local governments would not be affected. Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said he has talked with Beers and has directed the legislative fiscal analyst office to examine the idea.
"I need to know the impact," he said, referring to the loss of revenue from the state's "rainy day" fund.
Raggio said he spoke to Guinn about it and the governor is considering it. "But he's been swamped," said Raggio, referring to the plans to accept 800 people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
"I'm willing to look at it if it is workable," he said. But he cautioned he didn't want to lower the rainy day fund to a point where Nevada might not be able to respond to an emergency.
Gas prices in the Las Vegas Valley were averaging about $3.09 for a gallon of regular unleaded on Monday.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- The pull of a drug, a push to the brink
- Was there an ulterior motive in parking the stripper-mobile?
- CityCenter hotel welcomes new employees with gala
- Forrest Griffin writes his own ending at UFC 106
- Notebook: The Shark and LJ circle
- Police arrest 2 more in fatal shooting of Metro officer
- Harry Reid’s hopes hitched to health care reform bill
- What might result from a national airing of Ensign’s dirty laundry
- Politicians waste no time spinning latest jobless numbers
- Illness theory gaining ground for gambling addiction
Blogs
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
DWTS Finale: Top three couples perform three dances
High School Sports Scene
How Gorman saved the school district thousands
Politics: Ralston's Flash
GOP consultants Rogich, Ernaut back Democratic AG's re-election (1 Comment)
Audio: Ex-Gov. Bob List accuses Harry Reid of "abuse of power" on health care
Now and Then
Michael Schumacher takes 7th in go-kart race at Rio
The Kats Report
Monday List: 20 at 20, a quick look at The Mirage on a landmark birthday (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny’s correct prediction of Osmond vs. Osbourne
- Live chat
- Tuesday, noon PST
- Chat with Krista Creelman
- Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question
Calendar »
- 23 Mon
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
-
DJ Scooter at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Fabolous's birthday at Jet
Jet | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Mixology Monday at Downtown Cocktail Room
Downtown Cocktail Room | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
DJ Red at Tabu
Tabú Ultralounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Automatic Tour at The Square Apple
The Square Apple
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati













