Ceres’ representative in the California State Senate, Democrat Marie Alvarado-Gil, voted against her party in a bill endorsed by Governor Newsom to “grant unyielding power to an unelected state commission to impose unprecedented regulatory actions” over the gas and oil industry.

“I voted no on SBx1-2 ... because we don’t need more bureaucracy, we need less,” said Alvarado-Gil. “Constituents in Senate District 4 are feeling the pain at the pump, as it further strains household budgets. This bill would not provide the relief that is needed, which is one of our district’s top concerns.”

She said the bill SBx1-2 is “unprecedented” but would have “unintended consequences.”

Republicans in the state Legislature have been calling for a reduction or suspension of the state gas tax to reduce the cost of gas where Californians pay the highest price nationally. Democrats have refused to act, instead now going after the gas industry.

The senator said she is making good on her campaign promise of voting for the needs of her constituents over partisanship. “I believe that this is the right choice based on the needs and concerns of the people I represent.”

Newsom’s proposal is to cap oil refiner profits and financially penalize them when they make what he considers too much money. Funds collected through the penalty would be passed onto customers but it’s unclear how that would work.

Kern County Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) called SBx1-2 “a job killer bill,” adding that “it does nothing to lower gas prices. It will only increase costs, it will lead to energy shortages, it will disrupt the energy market. And the solution in the long term is to increase energy supply.”

A “fact sheet” released this month by the Western States Petroleum Association shows that gas prices in California carry an additional $1.19 per gallon at the pump due to a combination of state taxes.