Republicans in California House of Representatives urge Newsom to pause gas tax hike | News

EXCLUSIVE – A group of Republican lawmakers from California are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) to suspend the state’s annual gasoline tax increase as residents struggle with some of the highest gasoline prices in the country.

In a letter to Newsom on Thursday, all 11 Republican representatives from California called on him to suspend two gasoline tax increases that are expected to hit the Golden State later this year: the annual gasoline tax increase, which is expected to increase slightly in early July, and another 47-cent increase as a result of recent reforms to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

“Governor Newsom has failed to provide relief at the pump for hardworking Californians struggling with rising costs,” Republican Rep. David Valadao (CA), who initiated the letter, said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “My constituents already pay the highest gas prices in the country, and the fact that our prices will rise even higher due to the state’s policies is unacceptable. I again call on the Governor to suspend the gas tax to lower prices for Central Valley families.”

Lawmakers expressed concern about the annual gasoline tax increase, which they said would add 60 cents to the existing gasoline tax. However, a spokesman for Newsom dismissed that narrative, pointing to the California Department of Taxes and Fees’ announcement that excise tax rates would increase from 57.9 cents to 59.6 cents.

“This letter is full of inaccuracies, such as the claim that the gas tax will raise prices by 60 cents on July 1, which is completely false. These members should take a closer look at what they are signing instead of just blindly doing what oil company interests want,” spokesman Alex Stack told the Washington Examiner. “Gasoline prices in California have been declining for five weeks in a row.”

The letter comes as California has an average price of $5.15 per gallon for regular gasoline since Thursday, the highest in the country, according to AAA. Hawaii is second with an average price of $4.87, nearly 30 cents less.

California implements an annual gasoline tax increase in the summer. But this year it will coincide with a second expected gasoline tax increase in September due to the California Air Resources Board’s reforms to the low-carbon fuel standard. Prices could rise by 47 cents per gallon in 2025 and as much as 52 cents in 2026, according to the board.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Valadao had previously urged Newsom to pause the annual gas tax increase and sent similar letters to the governor over the past two years, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

“For the past two years, we have urged you to suspend the gasoline tax given the ongoing challenges facing Californians who must choose between filling their gas tanks and putting food on the table,” the letter said. “Our concerns have continued to be ignored while Californians suffer the consequences.”