Republicans in Congress call on Newsom to suspend California’s gasoline tax hike

May 24, 2024

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

California Republicans are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend the annual gas tax increase as Golden State residents struggle with the highest gas prices in the country. (Gazette)

All 11 California Republicans in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Newsom on Thursday urging the governor to suspend two gasoline tax hikes set to take effect this year. The two increases are the annual gasoline tax hike that takes effect in early July and a 47-cent increase planned for September that stems from recent reforms by the California Air Resources Board to reduce carbon emissions.

“Governor Newsom has failed to provide relief at the pump for hardworking Californians struggling with rising costs,” said Republican Rep. David Valadao, who initiated the letter. “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.”

Valadao has sent similar letters to Newsom over the past two years. The governor has not stopped the gas tax increase.

Republican lawmakers argue that the annual gasoline tax increase would result in a 60 cent increase on the existing tax.

A spokesman for Newsom denied that claim, pointing to an announcement by the California Department of Revenue 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 the oil companies’ interests want,” said spokesman Alex Stack. “Gasoline prices in California have been declining for five weeks in a row.”

According to AAA, a gallon of regular gasoline in California cost an average of $5.15 on Thursday, the highest price in the U.S. In Hawaii, the state with the second highest gasoline prices, the average price was $4.87.