California lawmakers hold special session on ways to prevent gas price spikes
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers opened a special session on Wednesday to consider new ways to prevent gas price spikes in the state.
California Energy Commission (CEC) data shows that the price spikes drivers have faced for the past ten years have at times reached higher than $6 a gallon.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has been openly at odds with oil companies during his two terms.
"I mean, how dumb do we want to continue to be," Newsom said on Sept. 4. "To be played as fools?"
Newsom is pushing new legislation that would allow the CEC to establish minimum inventory levels for oil company refineries to help prevent spikes.
"These price spikes go directly in their pocket," Newsom said.
Rob Stutzman is a lobbyist for the Western States Petroleum association and says the governor's attacks on the oil industry are unfounded.
"The way he's gone after oil has always been political," Stutzman said. "The governor frankly lies when he says the industry is colluding and intentionally withholding gas to raise prices. That is already illegal."
Assembly Republicans are introducing their own set of bills they say would reduce gas prices immediately, including suspending the California gas tax for one year, issuing $100 rebates for gas-powered car owners, and fast-tracking drilling approvals.
Wednesday was the first of two days of this gas price special session. A final vote on the assembly floor is set for October.
The Senate has not agreed to meet on this topic yet.