SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republicans gathered in front of a local gas station ahead of a pivotal vote to suspend the gas tax. For the third time this year, Democrats struck down any efforts to lower gas prices as they continue to escalate. Ahead of Memorial Day weekend travel, Republicans wanted to put forward a bipartisan solution that would have passed on savings to consumers at the pump, though Democrats continued to play party politics and were not in favor of hearing this legislation on the floor.
Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) was joined by colleagues Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (R- Laguna Niguel), Assemblyman Steven Choi (R-Irvine), and Assemblyman Thurston Smith (R-Apple Valley) in front of a Sacramento gas station to discuss bipartisan proposal AB 2547 ahead of a vote on the Assembly floor that took place this morning. This legislation would have suspended the gas tax for one year and require that all revenue generated by the tax be passed on directly to the consumer.
Assembly Members of the Republican Caucus released the following statements:
“This morning we are here to talk about the gas prices and much-needed relief California families need. As Republicans, we have been pushing for a gas tax suspension since the beginning, when we introduced a bill in January and pushed for a vote and brought a vote to the floor… we need to provide this relief. People have waited far too long… we are now on day 77 of the Governor promising to provide gas tax relief. The good news is, there’s been a bipartisan measure that’s been introduced, AB 2457, which has both Democrats and Republicans who have signed on. We are going to bring it to the floor and vote on it now. We are not going to wait any longer.” -Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher
“Yesterday, Joe Biden celebrated high gas prices as we make our ‘incredible transition’. Apparently, it’s more incredible here in California than anywhere else as our gas prices climb to astronomic levels… our caucus is fighting to reverse the tide. We are fighting to make sure people can stay and build a career, raise a family, and retire. We are ready to meet our colleagues on the other side of the aisle when they are ready to work on real solutions. That starts today, this morning, when we will give them another chance to vote on suspending the gas tax.” –Assemblyman Kevin Kiley
“When Republicans first proposed suspending the gas tax on January 12, gas prices were just $4.58 on average in California according to AAA…if you tally up how much Californians would have saved since then if we had enacted the gas tax suspension, that number comes to about $2,400 dollars per person. If you are looking at a family, that number nearly doubles. That’s a far cry from the small checks the Governor has been proposing to send. Californians deserve better. In some parts of the state, gas is nearly $8 a gallon. That is unacceptable and unsustainable for our communities… enough is enough.” –Assemblywoman Laurie Davies
“Legislative Democrats continue to delay while Californians struggle to pay. Why hide behind process, deadlines, and blame, when we can take action today by using a small portion of the Governor’s nearly 100 billion dollars of budget surplus to temporarily suspend the gas tax and lower gas prices by over 50 cents immediately? How many more gas price records does California have to break before Legislative Democrats take action? How much longer can we ask hardworking families to choose between filling up their gas tank or buying groceries? I emphatically urge the Legislature to suspend the gas tax and give these families a 50 cent break now. Today is the time to pass AB 2457.” – Assemblyman Steven Choi, Ph.D.
To view today’s press conference, please click here: https://vimeo.com/713790486
*UPDATE: Republicans brought forward a motion to bring A.B. 2457 to the floor for a vote, and the motion failed
3 comments
It’s funny that you think eight $.35 tax is going to help with the engross price of gasoline maybe they should research the price gouging that’s occurring like gasoline instead of the price gouging that occurred with toilet paper
I part company with Democrats here. Their insistence on giving a handout to EVERYONE, rather than drivers, is a prime example of woke politics and is pure bull****. Plus, there’s the added benefit of the huge increase in gas taxes paid to the state. To those folks, higher prices means more sales tav revenue, more gas tax revenue. Plainly, the don’t care
This is a nightmare. I’m on disability and struggled with food prices in the past. Then by the grace of God , food stamps became available to people on S. S . Disability. I was finally breaking even. Thanks to shelter inc. who provides me with much needed housing. Then this gas fiasco is making my life disadvantage again. I have to commute from Pittsburg to Antioch on a daily basis. The price has priced me out of the freedom of having a vehicle. I believe going to have to park it and take the bus are apt. For Uber free rides back and forth funded by my health benefits and the County of Contra Costa. I am extremely grateful for these benefits but would much prefer driving myself. I don’t think prices are going to go down anytime soon are anytime. Since COVID every big business and sm. Business has found a way to price gauge the struggling mainstream folks. I say boycott, boycott, boycott… I know this is a difficult proposition especially with sm.children in the household. My goodness the price of milk , cereal, eggs, bread is atrocious. We need to level off and work with the incomes that we receive. Giving us a raise is great. More jobs will be generated by the logging industry. And we will all breath heavier still. I must not resign myself to heavy sighs, I shall trust in God and his Son for my providence. Thanks be to him for all his help and tender mercies.
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