SACRAMENTO – Legislative Republicans are calling on the California Air Resources Board to be honest and transparent about the impact a series of proposed regulations will have on California’s runaway gas prices.
In a letter to Air Resources Board chair Liane M. Randolph, signed by every Republican member of the Assembly and Senate, the lawmakers objected to an update to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard that the board projected could raise gas prices by more than $0.50 cents a gallon, as well as an apparent effort the by board to walk back their estimate of the plan’s impact on consumers.
“Gas isn’t a luxury item. It is a basic necessity, and Californians are paying entirely too much for it,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City). “It’s flat-out dishonest for Gavin Newsom to complain about high gas prices while his administration works behind the scenes to jack up costs even more.”
The letter also raises concerns about expensive new restrictions proposed to the cap-and-trade program and the Newsom administration’s refusal to be honest about the costs to consumers of the proposed changes.
“If families pay more to fill up their gas tank, they then have less money available to buy food, pay bills on time, or put away for a rainy day or emergency. This aggressive state action is just another fee or tax being tacked on to penalize a majority of Californians who drive gas cars. Protecting the hard-earned dollars of my constituents is a top priority and this regulation should be halted now,” said Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa).
The letter was sent ahead of a 1:30pm hearing of the Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee, at which Newsom administration officials will face questioning about the state’s highest-in-the-nation gas prices.
The full letter can be read HERE.
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