Berkley splits with Clinton over 'gas tax holiday'

LAS VEGAS-Although she continues to support N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton for her party's nomination for president, Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) disagrees with one of Clinton's most publicized policy proposals of recent weeks, the "gas tax holiday."

"I am opposed to the gas tax holiday, having sat on the Transportation Committee and knowing of the infrastructure needs of this country and the condition of our roads," said Berkley.

"In Nevada, we are at least $3.5 billion, possibly $5 billion short of satisfying our current and future infrastructure needs.  To have a gas holiday that will take money out of the highway fund, which designates money for specific highway projects will be very counterproductive."

"As supportive as I am of Sen. Clinton and as much of an admirer as I am of her, I disagreed with that position."

Clinton's other superdelegate supporter in the state, Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, said last week that she would probably support the gas tax holiday even though it "wouldn't make that much difference here."

"You know, Nevada law, if the federal tax drops, the state tax goes up," said Titus.  "As I understand it, it's only about $28 savings.  Overall though, I think it's probably something I would support."

Gas prices have become a hot campaign issue in recent months as the cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has soared to $3.67, according to today's AAA statistics.

Last month, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) challenged Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to release Democrats' "commonsense plan" to "lower gas prices," and noted that since Democrats took over congress, gasoline has spiked $1.18.

Berkley disputed that blame for high gas prices lies with Democrats.

"We have two oil and gas men in the White House right now," said Berkley.  "Until six months ago, Pres. Bush denied that climate change was a reality and that there was any global warming that could be attributed to the use of fossil fuels, so that's the administration we're dealing with."

"One of the pieces of legislation that we passed immediately upon taking control of congress was the reallocation of the massive tax breaks that are going to the oil and gas companies and the redistribution of those tax credits to solar, wind, geothermal, hydro power and other potential good renewable energy sources and the administration's response was a threatened veto.  They have been less than helpful on any of the pieces of legislation that have come out of the House."

"It would be my hope that the next Democratic president of this country decides that this is important enough of a priority to have a ten year plan to make this nation energy independent."