Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) released the following statement in response to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) expanding the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standards, costing Californians at least 65 cents per gallon at the pump:
“Today’s vote is nothing short of blatant price gouging by the Newsom Administration.
“The Air Resources Board’s 65-cent gas price hike is a direct assault on hardworking Californians. This unelected group of wealthy bureaucrats, handpicked and directed by Governor Newsom, is shamelessly increasing gas prices so Californians are forced into electric vehicles against their will. And conveniently, they pushed this costly regulation through right after the election, hoping no one would notice.
“Californians have had enough—we already pay the highest gas prices in the nation, and they are about to get much higher. It’s time to rein in CARB’s unchecked power, starting by revoking the federal waivers that allow them to do whatever they want, whenever they want without the consent of Californians who pay the price for their political agenda," said Leader Jones.
A statewide petition against the gas price hike circulated by members of the Senate Republican Caucus garnered almost 13,000 signatures in just one week. Despite a lack of transparency and public outcry, CARB unanimously passed the costly regulation earlier today.
The Air Resources Board is made up of wealthy political appointees picked by the governor and is responsible for implementing Newsom’s plan to convert all California vehicles to electric by 2035. He has recently called on the Board to increase its efforts to achieve those targets as California is currently not on track to hit the Governor’s mandate.
Leader Jones recently published an op-ed in The San Diego Union-Tribune exposing Newsom’s plan to raise gas prices and force Californians into electric vehicles. Click here to read the op-ed.