A first-in-the-nation bill to punish oil companies for profiting from price spikes at the pump breezed through the California Senate on Thursday at the urging of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, the first major vote in an effort to pass the law by month’s end.
The proposal is in response to sales last summer when the average price of a gallon of gasoline in California soared to a record high of $6.48. [emphasis, links added]
Drivers in some places paid as much as $8 per gallon, prompting widespread outrage in an election year.
Newsom, a Democrat, reacted by attacking the oil industry, specifically the five companies that provide 97% of gasoline in the state.
He asked the Democratic-controlled state Legislature to pass a new tax on oil company profits, arguing it would protect consumers by preventing price spikes.
That idea went nowhere in the Legislature, as lawmakers feared it would create chaos in the petroleum market and cause companies to make less gasoline, thus increasing prices.
Instead, lawmakers and Newsom settled on a bill that would let the California Energy Commission decide whether to impose civil penalties on oil companies for price gouging. …
The bill highlights the challenges of balancing the competing pressures of protecting consumers at the pump while at the same time pushing policies to end the state’s reliance on fossil fuels.
California’s climate strategy — which includes banning the sale of most new gas-powered cars by 2035 — would reduce demand for gasoline by 94% by 2045.
“There are consequences for doing what we are doing, and (high gas prices) are one of the consequences,” said state Sen. Kelly Seyarto, a Republican from Murrieta who opposes the bill.
California’s gasoline prices are already higher than most other states because of taxes, fees, and environmental regulations.
California’s gas tax is the second-highest in the country at 54 cents per gallon.
And the state requires oil companies to make a special blend of gasoline to sell in California that is better for the environment but is more expensive to produce.
Republicans on Thursday tried to force a vote on a separate bill that would suspend the state’s gas tax and some gas-related regulations for one year.
But Democrats voted not to bring the bill up for debate.
At one point during the price spike last year, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in California was more than $2.60 higher than the national average — a difference regulators say is too large to be explained by taxes, fees, and regulations.
Much of the oil industry’s complaints about the bill have focused on the new, independent state agency lawmakers would create to investigate the market.
Oil companies would be required to disclose massive amounts of data to this agency, giving regulators a better sense of what could be driving price spikes. And, crucially, the agency would have subpoena power to compel oil company executives to testify.
Kevin Slagle, a spokesperson for the Western States Petroleum Association, said oil companies would have to report data on 15,000 transactions per day, what he called “a ridiculous level of reporting” that would drive up costs.
He said the real problem with California’s gas prices is state laws and regulations that hinder the supply of fuel.
He criticized Newsom and lawmakers for rushing the bill through the Legislature with little input from the oil industry.
“Why does the governor want to jam this through? Clearly, it’s because the details of this are not good for California consumers,” Slagle said. “They don’t address the problem, but it provides him a political win.”
Read full post at The Canadian Press
In L.A. its illegal to hunt moths under the streetlights in Chico they,ll fine you $500 for setting off a Nuclear Device yes California has some pretty stupid laws this adds to it
California already has stupid laws like in L.A. where its illegal to hunt moths under the Streetlights and Chico where they.ll fine you $500 for setting off a Nuclear Device Yep Sacramento Sate Capital run by the Idiots/Liberal Democrats
The Law of Supply & Demand…if you restrict the supply of any commodity, without reducing demand, the price goes up! Economics 101.
Stop making sense. You’ll hurt Newsom’s brain.
I wonder what would Newson do if the the oil co’s said (in response) it was simply too difficult and expensive for them to supply gas and diesel into CA?
In addition, it has become clear the the CA government would be happy about that given their actions and high concern for “the environment”.
California is run by Idiots and Newsom is the #1 Idiot but the voters who reelected these Dunderheads are just as much to blame
All the blog sites in the world will not get rid of the AGW alarmist liars.
They have to be voted out.
The truth is not a conspiracy. Many voters don’t know what is in their best interest. They’re buying groceries with a credit card while making the same mistake at the ballot box, election after election. Prosperity, clean air and clean water are not mutually exclusive. Prioritize.
Democrats are both ignorant and evil. A bad combination.
Governor Newsom expects big oil to play nice while he forces them to “walk the plank”. Surely Californians must see the subterfuge at the gas pumps.
Perhaps the oil companies should just withdraw from California and then watch the Democrats sputter about how unfair that is.
There are so many reasons why gasoline is more expensive than elsewhere in the US (except Hawaii which has to import all oil from overseas). Calif has a large amount of oil underground but they refuse to drill anymore. Also they refuse to allow any new pipelines to bring in oil from east so they have to import much of their oil from overseas (like Hawaii). Add to that all the other issues mentioned above and California has gotten what it deserves.
It is very typical behavior of Democrats to blame others for the problems that they cause. As the article pointed out, there are high taxes, policies that limit supply, and the fuel blend mandate driving up the prices. California’s cap and trade also increases the price. I’m sure that “Newsom and lawmakers for rushing the bill through the Legislature with little input from the oil industry” because they don’t want the industry to highlight the real reasons for the high prices.