Republicans in California urge Newsom to suspend gas tax hike

Although their demands have fallen on deaf ears in the past, Republicans in the California House of Representatives are now again calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to suspend the gasoline tax increase.

California’s entire Republican congressional delegation has sent Newsom a letter urging him to block the increase, which is set to take effect on July 1.

The big picture: The average price of gasoline nationwide is $3.60 per gallon, well below the California average of $5.13.

• California’s gasoline tax is set to rise from 57.9 cents per gallon to 59.6 cents per gallon in July.
• The Republican delegation also called on Newsom to work with the California Air Resources Board to ensure that gasoline prices do not rise another 47 cents per gallon next year, as the board predicted last September.

What you say: “Governor Newsom has failed to provide relief at the pump for hardworking Californians struggling with rising costs,” said Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford). “My constituents already pay the highest gas prices in the country, and the fact that our prices will rise even higher because of the state’s policies is unacceptable. I again call on the Governor to suspend the gas tax to lower prices for Central Valley families.”