(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) In a bid to alleviate Democrats’ self-inflicted gas crisis, California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to bribe automobile owners in the state with a $400 payment to offset the pain at the pump, Zero Hedge reported.
NEW: we’re proposing $11 BILLION in relief, including a $9 billion tax refund for rising gas prices.
– $400 per registered car
– 3 months of free public transitpic.twitter.com/XsAn0kuokP— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 23, 2022
However, some may wish to withold their thanks. Despite an unprecedented budget surplus last year, Newsom and his fellow Democrats actually raised the gas tax, in part to force people to phase out the use of automobiles.
Moreover, many have been outraged by a mystery “surcharge” at the pump, not earmarked for anything specific, and the origin of which nobody can account for, even though Californians have been paying it since 2015.
Those extra add-ons have helped give California and other deep-blue states the highest overall gas prices in the country.
The $11 billion package that Newsom proposed earlier this week is meant to help Californians handle gas prices that have climbed to an average of $5.98 per gallon in recent days.
Included in the package is a $400 tax refund in the form of a debit card for use on gasoline and three months of free public transit.
The card will only be given to those who own a registered vehicle.
Those with two vehicles will be eligible for an $800 card.
Careful not to put any of the blame on himself or his party, Newsom cited Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine as the reason for the gas price hikes.
“We’re taking immediate action to get money directly into the pockets of Californians who are facing higher gas prices as a direct result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” said the governor.
Of course, Newsom forgot to mention that President Joe Biden shut down the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office, among other “green energy” restrictions and regulations that have set American oil producers back years.
While many Californians will certainly welcome the aid, the move is only the latest in a string of attempts by the Democrats to solve their own financial crises by taxing the people more then giving them cash back.
Some on Twitter pointed out that Newsom’s attempt to solve his own problems are not a real solution.
“I voted for you but this is just a no,” one user wrote.
“It’s a waste of tax payer dollars… Also $400 is a short term solution that helps briefly. We need a long term solution. Go back to the drawing board Governor.”
I voted for you but this is just a no. It’s a waste of tax payer dollars. No one is going to use public transit, we don’t have time for that. Also $400 is a short term solution that helps briefly. We need a long term solution. Go back to the drawing board Governor.
— Michael (@iAmSchuck) March 23, 2022
