LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts hit the brakes on the idea of using a gas tax holiday to give Nebraska drivers relief from rising fuel prices.

He said such a solution would not solve the problem and, whether done by the federal or state government, would not leave the state with enough money to maintain and expand its roads and bridges.

“I’m actually against Band-Aid type solutions,” he said. “At the end of the day, that money is still going to have to be made up.”

Eight states, however, have temporarily suspended their gas tax or a gas tax increase this year, while several other states have considered the proposal.

The 18.4-cent federal gas tax could have been cut to zero for the rest of the year under a proposal introduced in Congress, but the measure has failed to gain traction so far.

Drivers could see a little more savings from suspending the state gas tax. Nebraska’s gas tax rate is at 24.8 cents a gallon for the first six months of the year. Under state law, it will be adjusted July 1 based on fuel prices and legislative appropriations.

Ricketts blames the rise in gas prices on the Biden administration, specifically the president's decision to block the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

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