Every day, constituents call our offices to voice concerns about the affordability crisis as it continues to intensify, and as hard-working people are spending more and more on essentials.
Over the past four years of the Biden-Harris administration, the cost of living in this nation has skyrocketed and caused every American’s pocketbook to dwindle. House Republicans have been fighting every day to help curb this insane inflation, but now California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing other mandates which will increase gas prices for not just Californians, but also surrounding states. And as the price of gasoline goes up, it drives up the costs of other daily necessities which worsens the strain on household budgets.
This reality unfortunately has been caused by faulty energy policies that have not been grounded in sound economic principles. The policies of the Newsom administration have led to the loss of needed refining capacity, the decline in needed domestic oil production in California, and the lack of investment in affordable energy infrastructure. And now, Newsom called for a special session of the California Legislature to force the passage of a refinery mandate that will raise gasoline costs even more and in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Governor Newsom’s proposal to force refineries to withhold supply from the market is destructive and irresponsible to say the least. It’s time to look in the mirror and admit the real-world consequences of these flawed policies.
The Newsom administration has now found a way to disrupt needed energy supplies, not just in California, but across the western United States. This attempt by the Newsom administration to use this mandate for political theater to make headlines and demonize needed energy production should be rejected. Governor Newsom seems to be taking a page out of the Kamala Harris’ playbook that is driven by a desire to undermine free market dynamics.
In a bipartisan letter by the Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, it cites the analysis by the California Energy Commission that this unworkable proposal “may artificially create shortages in downstream markets.”
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The governors of Arizona and Nevada join 15 members of Congress who have outlined the flaws of Governor Newsom’s misguided idea to micromanage essential refinery operations in California.
Let’s be clear, this proposal is Governor Newsom intentionally increasing gas prices on consumers.
If Governor Newsom was serious about providing lower gas prices for our states, we need to expand refining capacity and allow for more domestic oil production in California to increase affordable gasoline supplies.
We have a responsibility to enact proposals that rely on facts and data to address cost of living issues.
We are concerned with the course that has been set by this irresponsible policy decision, which will further pinch the pocketbooks of families across California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Vince Fong represents California’s 20th congressional district. Juan Ciscomani represents Arizona’s 6th congressional district. Mark Amodei represents Nevada’s 2nd congressional district.