Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez joined state Assembly members in a Sacramento press conference last week to draw attention to Republican proposals to lower the cost of gas in California.
The presser was timed before a planned special session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom on gas prices. Republicans say they have “real solutions to lower gas prices and keep California affordable.” They say Newsom’s plan to force the remaining refineries left in California to set aside a reserve will only decrease gasoline supplies and drive up prices.
Assembly Republican proposals include, among other things, suspending the gas tax, exempting gas from cap-and-trade, and cutting red-tape on storage projects.
Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) said “Californians pay far too much at the pump, and they’re smart enough to know who’s at fault – Governor Newsom and his ridiculous regulations and taxes.” He called for “real reform to bring down gas prices, not more dodgy directives that will constrict supply.”
Taft Mayor Dave Noerr had sharp words for Newsom, saying that he created the “California nightmare that forced California residents to pay more than any other state for gas and electricity. And he wants to blame the oil industry? He needs to step up and take ownership for his own state and policies instead of blaming others.”
Ceres Mayor Lopez shared that he hears stories every day of how high gas prices are affecting lives of residents and business owners.
“Lowering the cost of fuel isn’t a partisan issue,” said Lopez. “This is an issue for the single mother that has to spend $100 a week driving her kids to school. This is an issue for the small business owners; the plumber or electrician who has to raise their rates because gas is $5 a gallon. This is an issue for the owner of a local grocery store who is paying higher shipping fees and has to raise prices of everyday items due to chronically high gas prices.”
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), vice-chair of the special session committee on gas costs, said the forthcoming session is “politically deconstructing the affordable gas supply in California based on a demonstrably false narrative.”
“By Newsom’s own analysis, California is a fuel island, one refinery outage away from being unable to meet the needs of Californians,” said Patterson. “The governor’s proposal will drive prices higher and do nothing to keep California refineries open.”
A number of Assembly bills are proposed to lower gas prices including suspending the gas tax. California has the highest gas tax in the nation at 68.1 cents per gallon. Democrats have ignored the proposal.
Another bill, ABX-2-5 would issue $100 rebates to drivers to offset rising gas prices.
ABX2-6 is designed to cut the environmental red tape involved which they say would expand California’s storage projects if it reduces emissions of greenhouse gases by eliminating the need to import petroleum from other states and prevents price spikes by increasing the fuel supply at a refinery.
