From CalMatters Capitol reporter Alexei Koseff:
Just a few months delayed, Gov. Gavin Newsom lastly acquired to take his victory lap over the oil business on Monday.
Surrounded by Democratic lawmakers and different supporters within the state Capitol rotunda, Newsom signed Meeting Invoice X2-1his proposal to tackle gasoline value spikeswhich he referred to as “a profoundly consequential effort to reduce the costs of working people in the state of California.”
The measure goals to easy out seasonal surges in costs on the pump by rising state oversight of refinery upkeep. This might embrace requiring operators to take care of a minimal gas reserve that they will dip into once they go offline.
The governor pushed for a model of this invoice on the finish of the legislative session in August however was rebuffed by lawmakers pissed off that that they had no time to vet it. So Newsom referred to as a particular sessionbringing the sometimes reticent Legislature again to Sacramento in the course of an election marketing campaign to move his proposal, regardless of political jitters and the vocal opposition of organized labor.
However throughout Monday’s signing ceremony, Newsom reserved his fireplace for oil corporations — considered one of his main political punching baggage lately — eviscerating them as polluters, liars and value gougers.
- Newsom: “They’re screwing you. They’ve been screwing you for years and years and years. There’s no other way to put it.”
Minutes earlier than the occasion started, the governor launched an animated video wherein he accused the business of manipulating costs to scare voters into supporting former President Donald Trump within the November election. Newsom, who has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harrisdenied that his proposal was political retribution, however pointed to experiences earlier this 12 months that Trump requested fossil gas executives to finance his marketing campaign in alternate for deregulation.
- Newsom: “When a former president of the United States asks for $1 billion — $1 billion — in a room of oil industry executives to roll back regulations, I think that should scare the hell out of you. It sure as hell scares the hell out of me.”
The Western States Petroleum Affiliation, which represents the oil business in California, slammed Newsom for “a political performance” that “chose to demonize an industry that powers California’s economy and fuels the daily lives of millions.”
- President and CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd, in an announcement: “The Governor’s attacks, filled with personal insults toward the press and the industry, only serve to divide, not address the urgent issues we face.”
The ceremony adopted a succinct ground session wherein the Meeting gave ultimate approval to the invoice so shortly and unceremoniously that reporters behind the chambers didn’t even notice the vote had occurred at first.
There was no formal debate earlier than the Meeting concurred within the Senate amendments to the proposal by a 42-16 vote, another than the minimal for passage. 4 Democrats joined Republicans in opposition, whereas many others abstained.
Meeting Republican Chief James Gallagher of Chico, who briefly and unsuccessfully tried to adjourn the session earlier than members might vote, instructed reporters it was “a complete travesty” that the particular session had “done absolutely nothing but increase” fuel costs, referring to arguments that mandating gas reserves would drive up prices by artificially limiting provide.
“Even if in theory it stops price spikes, it still doesn’t bring them down,” he stated following the session. “And the problem is the price is too damn high right now.”
