Amid Rising Gasoline Prices, Gas Tax Increases Are Still Looming In — Not Looking Good
(USNewsMag.com) – California has the highest gas prices in the United States due, in part, to the state’s gas taxes. As of June 22, AAA reports the average price of a gallon of regular is $6.37 and 51.1 cents of that is the gas tax. Soon, that number is scheduled to increase.
As of July 1, the California drivers will pay 53.9 cents in tax for every gallon of gas. The increasing figure is the result of a bill passed in 2017, Senate Bill 1, which raises the fuel tax each year. The money it generates pays for repairs to roads and bridges. However, as residents are squeezed at the pump, lawmakers are grappling with how to help them.
In April, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) asked the legislature to suspend the gas tax increase. The month before, Republicans called for a complete suspension. Recently, the GOP renewed those calls, sending a letter to Newsom asking him to suspend the tax to ease the pain drivers are facing at the pump.
Suspending the gas tax would immediately put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Central Valley families. That’s why I led the entire CA Republican delegation in requesting this much-needed relief back in March. It's time for the state to act.https://t.co/WLgSL2Qs4a
— Rep. David Valadao (@RepDavidValadao) June 21, 2022
Democratic lawmakers have refused to suspend the gas tax and its increase, leaving California residents to suffer. For months they have debated rebates for struggling families but nothing has come of the talks thus far.
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