One day after an attempt to short-circuit legislative procedure to force a vote on a one-year gas tax holiday, a coalition of moderate Democratic legislators and Republicans are pressing one last time to convince leading Democrats to reconsider relief options for sky-high gas prices.
The bipartisan group sent an eleventh-hour plea to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D–Paramount) aiming to push a bill through the State Capitol that would suspend the state’s gas tax for a year.
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The Department of Finance said the 51-cent gas tax is expected to rise another 3 cents on July 1.
Currently, California’s statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded hit a new high at $6.07, according to AAA.
“We need to provide this relief; people have waited far too long,” Assembly Member James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 2457, faces a deadline Friday to pass the assembly.
Efforts to suspend rules to force a vote on it fell short Wednesday.
Supporters said they have more Democratic support for the measure and may try again to force a floor vote at the end of Friday.
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