SACRAMENTO — Today, legislative Democrats rubber stamped Newsom’s reckless refinery mandate, sending the governor’s latest publicity stunt to his desk to be signed into law. This comes despite months of warnings from Republicans, neighboring governors, and even his own administration that these new regulations could drive up prices.
“Democrats know these new regulations will do nothing to actually lower gas prices,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City). “Make no mistake, they have the power to lower gas prices today. But instead of passing any meaningful proposals, Democrats are doing the governor’s bidding. They should be fighting for California drivers, not helping Newsom distract from the price hike his administration is getting ready to impose.”
Assembly Republicans proposed several bills that would have immediately offered drivers relief at the pump, including a bill that would have suspended the gas tax and exempted gas from Cap-and-Trade. Democrats refused to vote on the bills and instead pushed forward with the Governor’s half-baked mandate.
California drivers are currently paying the highest gas prices in the nation. While the governor claims he is working to prevent price spikes, the California Air Resources Board (which Newsom controls) is slated to approve an update to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard that could increase retail gas prices by another 65 cents per gallon.
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