The Los Angeles Daily News: Don’t let California politicians gaslight you. Higher gas prices are driven by deliberate policy choices.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 
March 25, 2024       

SACRAMENTO– On Sunday the Southern California News Group including the Los Angeles Daily News, Orange County Register, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Redlands Daily Facts and San Bernardino Sun published an op-ed from California Business Roundtable President Rob Laplsey that tells the truth about what’s causing California’s high gas prices: policy choices made in Sacramento. 

Some highlights: 

Gas prices in California are the highest in the nation, and the state recently announced its policies are about to drive them even higher. 

A recent Los Angeles Times editorial completely misrepresented the root causes and attempted to cast blame in the wrong place. This is the same tactic the governor and Legislature have been using to try to displace the blame, but the facts speak for themselves. For example, it is a FACT that many factors impact California’s gas prices, but policy choices made by the governor, Legislature, and state regulators have made California’s gas and diesel prices the highest in the nation. 

As of March 11, 2024, state and local governments collected $1.24/gallon in taxes and fees—27 percent of the total cost of a gallon of gas goes to state and local agencies and another 18 cents above this goes to federal taxes. These aren’t industry talking points; these are FACTS provided by the California Energy Commission tracked and monitored over the past 20-plus years. The California government collects a 58-cent state excise tax, 12 cent per gallon low carbon fuel standard cost, 54 cents for cap and trade and other environmental fees, 10 cents for state and local sales tax, and a 2-cent state underground storage fee. 
…
We all agree we must address climate change, but we must balance ambition with reality, especially cost. According to a recent report for the Center for Jobs and the Economy California’s aggressive climate laws and regulations have done no better and, in some years, worse than the rest of the nation, but they are increasing the price of electricity, fuels and natural gas. Other states have produced actual emissions reductions by pursuing alternative and generally less costly approaches.
…
At a time when Californians are paying more for electricity, housing, food, and other necessities they cannot afford a 50-cent increase per gallon, let alone nearly two dollars more. 

The bottom line is that California’s policy choices are driving the high cost at the pump, and they’re continuing to do so. It might be easier to play the blame game, but the facts are the facts—the state of California makes a lot more money off a gallon of gas than oil companies do. 

To read the entire op-ed please visit: https://www.dailynews.com/2024/03/24/dont-let-california-politicians-gaslight-you-higher-gas-prices-are-driven-by-deliberate-policy-choices/  

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