Democrat-controlled California is the biggest bully in the room.
The radical left-wing state’s policies extend far outside its borders.
And Arizona Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs just blindsided Gavin Newsom by declaring war on California for one reason no one expected.
California will send gas prices soaring across the western U.S.
Democrat-controlled California has some of the highest gas prices in the country because of the state’s environmental extremist regulations.
But that’s not just a problem for California – it affects the states around it, as well.
The oil refineries that produce gasoline and diesel in the Democrat-controlled state also supply other western states, like Nevada and Arizona.
Changes to policy affecting refineries in California will spill over into surrounding states.
California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom called a special session of the state’s Legislature to debate how to lower gas prices.
Instead of reducing the environmental extremist regulations the state’s Democrat uniparty has enacted, the state is looking at another big government solution that is going to make the problem worse.
ABX2-1 and other bills in the California State Legislature would require oil refineries to store a minimum level of gasoline that would allegedly be used to stop price hikes.
Refineries don’t have the storage capacity and withholding supply would cause the price to increase.
Arizona and Nevada fight California proposal
Arizona and Nevada would see the price of gasoline rise in their states if California’s bill regulating oil refineries passes.
That’s why Arizona Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs and Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo sent a letter to Newsom urging him to kill the bill if it hits his desk.
“The people of Nevada and Arizona should not have to foot the bill for California’s misguided policies — especially when it comes to higher gas prices,” Lombardo said. “Lowering fuel costs is a bipartisan issue, and I’m grateful to partner with Governor Hobbs as we fight back against policies that will raise prices and cause regional economic disruption.”
The letter warns that minimum inventory levels for refiners would create supply shortages.
“Despite ongoing conversations about the root causes of rising fuel costs, it is evident that increased regulatory burdens on refiners and forced supply shortages will result in higher costs for consumers in all of our states,” the letter states.
“With both of our states reliant on California pipelines for significant amounts of our fuel, these looming cost increases and supply shortages are of tremendous concern to Arizona and Nevada,” the letter adds.
Hobbs urged Newsom not to move forward with the proposal.
“Arizonans are struggling with the high cost of living, we can’t afford yet another price hike,” Hobbs said. “I urge Governor Newsom and the California legislature to reconsider this legislation that could slash Arizona’s gasoline supply, raise prices at the pump and threaten Arizona’s strong economic growth.”
Newsom is ready to move full steam ahead with the bill.
And he falsely claimed it would lower costs for Arizona and Nevada.
“California refineries choosing not to backfill their supply when they go offline causes prices to spike — both here in California, and in Arizona and Nevada,” Newsom stated. “Our proposal will save consumers — including those in Arizona and Nevada — hundreds of millions of dollars every year by helping prevent these price spikes.”
Another destructive policy from California could take a toll on its neighbors.
