(John Ransom, Headline USA) Not content to let Californians pay some of the highest electricity rates in the continental US, California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted during his State of the State speech that he also wants to see gas prices surge, while forbidding California, one of the most oil rich states in the country, from drilling more.
He called it the “California Way” of governing, which will free his state “once and for all from the grasp of petro-dictators,” reported ABC News.
In return, Newsom has proposed a rebate of money that Californians will be forced to pay for higher gas prices—a program that Newsom’s own press officer admits will cost into the billions of dollars and will include rebates for illegal immigrants, according to Newsom senior adviser Dee Myers.
#MORE on @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom‘s proposal to send money back to taxpayers to offset record-high gas prices in #California. Newsom’s senior advisor @deemyers says the tax rebate would total in the billions. @kcranews
While details are being worked out, here’s who would qualify: pic.twitter.com/guU5bOTcHc— Orko Manna (@orko_manna) March 9, 2022
Who ultimately will pay the tab for Newsom’s declaration of independence from petrochemicals remains to be seen, but it would be no surprise if Newsom goes after the “rich.”
Newsom also got in a shot at global warming and fires raging in California, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, to make it seem as if high gas prices are something that Democrats are actually happy about.
“At a time when we’ve been heating and burning up, one thing we cannot do is repeat the mistakes of the past by embracing polluters, drilling even more oil, which only leads to even more extreme weather, more extreme drought, and more wildfire,” Newsom said according to Fox News.
Like Obama did when he targeted the coal industry in the United States, Newsom is treating the gas crisis like it will benefit Californians saying high gas prices are “this generation’s greatest economic opportunity,” according to ABC News.
But members of the GOP were doubtful, calling for a more proven way to protect the economy.
“Gas prices are out of control. Let’s suspend the gas tax, stop using foreign oil and focus on energy independence policies that don’t place new burdens on working families,” Assemblymember Suzette Martinez Valladares said in the Republican rebuttal according to local WANE.
Other GOP lawmakers echoed the sentiment on social media.
Newsom says he wants to give “some sort of rebate” to help with high gas prices that he’s suddenly concerned with (read: he did some polling). Here’s a better idea – just suspend the gas tax.
— Senator Melissa Melendez (@senatormelendez) March 10, 2022
