Efforts to revive a legislative plan aimed at assisting California families facing unprecedented gas prices met a setback on Monday, as state Senate Democrats opted not to revisit the proposal.
The bill, crafted by Senator Tony Strickland, a Republican, was introduced as an urgent strategy to alleviate hefty gas taxes, potentially reducing fuel costs by over $1 per gallon for Californians. According to Strickland, this initiative could have resulted in an annual savings of $1,100 for families at the gas station.
Strickland sought to reintroduce the Gas Tax Relief Act to the Senate floor, following its initial rejection during a committee vote in March. However, the attempt was thwarted as Democrats opposed the motion.
“In these times when affordability is crucial for families, Senate Democrats firmly rejected the much-needed financial relief,” Strickland expressed in a statement. “It was a squandered chance to make a difference,” he added.
He further remarked, “While other states are implementing temporary gas tax breaks or seriously considering ways to aid motorists, California, despite its reputation for championing affordability and policy leadership, seems aligned with Governor Newsom’s stance, refusing to even entertain the idea of easing fuel costs.”
Some gas experts have told lawmakers that suspending the state’s higher-than-average gas taxes would provide some immediate relief for Californians, who currently are financially crunched under $6.15-per-gallon prices.
“There’s no question it would help consumers,” said Severin Borenstein, an economist and researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, on a gas tax holiday.
Newsom and his supporters have repeatedly denied that cutting gas taxes would work. As recently as this month, the governor pointed the blame of high gas prices instead on President Donald Trump (R), whose war on Iran has constrained the global oil supply.
Newsom’s office had referred The California Post to past remarks he made, where the governor pointed out that a gas tax was suspended in Florida before.
“None of it was passed on. It was pocketed by Big Oil,” Newsom claimed.
“A lot of these things, the consequences, the unintended consequences are self-evident to anyone that’s been an expert in this,” he went on. He claimed the state’s gas tax leads to better roads, better jobs and better infrastructure.
States like Georgia and Indiana have passed gas tax relief, while even some Democrats, such as San Jose mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan, have supported the idea.
“This is unbelievable. You can’t make this stuff up,” Strickland said on Democratic inaction.