Gas prices are continuing to rise with no end in sight. In San Diego, the average price for a gallon of gas is $5.98 and prices have increased over the last 30 days. San Diegans are also paying the highest electricity rates in the country, which lead to a study that found San Diego to be the least affordable city in the United States. There have been a number of proposals to alleviate the pain at the pump and one of those solutions is a suspension of the gas tax. Unfortunately, Democrats in Sacramento including those from San Diego’s delegation don’t think it’s a good idea.
Two weeks ago, Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley introduced a bill that would have immediately suspended the gas tax. Democrats shot it down on party lines. Assemblywoman Akilah Weber told KUSI that she didn’t have enough time to read the bill. The bill is only two pages long. Kiley re-introduced the bill two weeks later on Thursday, hoping that Democrats would see the error of their ways. Instead, the bill failed 48-18. Kiley tweeted a photo of the vote breakdown, calling Democrats “out of touch”. San Diego Republican Assemblymembers Marie Waldron and Randy Voepel voted in support of the suspension. Once again, Assemblymembers Chris Ward, Tasha Horvath, and Akilah Weber voted to keep the gas tax, even after having an additional two weeks to read it.
A notable absence from the San Diego delegation was that of Democrat Brian Maienschein. Maienschein abstained from voting when the bill was introduced two weeks ago and again abstained on the most recent vote. Democrats and Gavin Newsom have proposed a plan to provide $400 debit cards to Californians, but it would only provide short-term relief.
The gas tax vote should have been a no-brainer, as everyone sees gas prices rising. Instead of providing relief to Californians who are struggling to fill up their tank, Democrats went against helping people.
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