Written by: Peter Murphy
When running a $21.5 billion budget surplus, proposing increasingly grandiose budgets, and demanding additional taxes on gas, you have to wonder, what exactly is the Democrats’ end game?
Throughout the past year, California Democrats have proudly touted their dishonest demands for “investigations” into California’s outrageous gas prices. All the while, they have known that it is their incessant taxes and radical environmental mandates that are exacerbating the gas prices levied on Californians.
As Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) said, “If Democrats want to know why gas prices are high, they don’t need an investigation. They need to look in the mirror.”
Meanwhile, gas prices have continued to increase, with the latest gas tax going into effect July 1, raising the price of gas by an additional 5.6 cents per gallon. The Democrats’ enthusiastic support in passing Senate Bill 1 is the cause of the latest gas hikes, which will disproportionately harm lower and middle class families.
Few Democrats have voiced their convictions about combating the outrageous gas prices, with most towing the Party line at the expense of hard-working Californians. Republicans released a proposal which would have suspended the 5.6 cent gas tax, but not a single Democrat voted for the plan.
As Democratic representatives continue to play political games and call for frivolous investigations to redirect the blame, their actions are directly indicative of their apathetic attitude towards the actual day-to-day struggles of Californians who face the highest costs of living in the United States.
When it comes to exactly why gas prices are so damn high, the proof is in the pudding. The taxes, fees, and the cost of complying with mandates adds up to more than an additional dollar per gallon at the pump. California gas prices are currently averaging $3.81, while the national average is only $2.68 per gallon.
California Democrats continue to bite the hand that feeds them—the California voters. Assemblyman Devon Mathis said of Democratic support for the gas tax, “while Democrats claim to support Californians who face the highest living costs in the nation, their actions tell a different story. With today’s vote, Democrats reaffirmed their support for a regressive gas tax increase that punishes every Californian who can’t afford a Tesla. So much for being the party of working people.”
