‘Price gouging’: a acquainted, lame excuse – Latest News
The California Energy Commission is reportedly probing “price gouging” by gasoline stations, as costs soar.
But “price gouging” is the oldest and lamest excuse for high gasoline costs in California — an excuse regularly used, and abused, by Gavin Newsom.
He blamed “price gouging” in 2022, when he referred to as a particular legislative session to deal with high costs.
Legislators didn’t cut the gasoline tax, or droop the state’s “Cap-and-Trade” (now “Cap-and-Invest”) climate change mandates.
The California Energy Commission is reportedly probing “price gouging” by gasoline stations, as costs soar. AP
Instead, they created a new “penalty” for windfall income.
But when oil corporations defined that the high value of working a refinery in California meant that they could should shut down altogether, the state suspended the penalty for 5 years.
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In 2024, Newsom referred to as one other particular session of the legislature to go a law requiring refineries to keep further fuel readily available in case of massive shifts within the world oil market.
He claimed the industry had continued to “lie” about price spikes. Without proof, of course.
“Price gouging” isn’t actually a factor.
In 2024, Newsom referred to as one other particular classes of the legislature to go a law requiring refineries to keep further fuel readily available. AP
No doubt there are some stations charging more than others. There at all times are, even when oil costs are low.
Which is why sensible drivers select alternate options.
There are so many gasoline stations — not less than, earlier than California drives them out of business — that anybody station that fees considerably more than the others loses business shortly.
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It’s a drawback — with a free-market answer.
Sometimes there are causes a explicit station fees more. The final station earlier than the freeway on-ramp; the one station in that one neighborhood; the station with the actually good espresso; the station that gives full service, a relic of the previous in California.
But principally, gasoline stations charge larger costs when oil markets are tight.
But principally, gasoline stations charge larger costs when oil markets are tight. REUTERS
That — and when politicians raise taxes, or impose new rules on fuel blends, or go new climate change restrictions that pressure refineries out of business.
California has plentiful oil and gasoline sources. But the state has develop into more and more hostile to drilling and exploration — onshore, in addition to offshore.
The solely actual “price gouging” is on the DMV — the place politicians have raised vehicle registration charges to absurd ranges, together with raising our gasoline taxes.
Everyone understands that the battle in Iran has raised gasoline costs considerably.
But California drivers had already paid a lot more than the national average.
Instead of in search of scapegoats, it’s time politicians and regulators began coping with the actual causes of the issue.
