The California Legislature is moving forward with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s oil mandate.
The State Senate approved the proposal on Friday, sending it back to the Assembly for final approval.
How they voted: Newsom’s mandate passed the Senate on a 23-9 vote in the special session.
- Eight Senators did not cast a vote, including Sen. Susan Eggman (D–Stockton).
- Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D–Bakersfield) was the only Democrat to oppose the mandate. All other eight votes against it were cast by Republicans.
Driving the news: The bill, ABX2-1, requires oil refiners to keep a minimum reserve on hand, which Newsom says will prevent price spikes for the cost of gas.
- It gives the California Energy Commission the authority to require oil refiners to plan for resupply during refiner maintenance outages.
State of play: The vote came despite a letter from five unions representing refinery workers opposing the mandate.
- “Our members do not have work unless these projects turn a profit,” the letter reads. “It should not be deemed villainous to operate legal and needed industries that turn a profit for shareholders, especially when they employ hundreds of thousands of Californians and contribute billions of dollars in tax revenue supporting essential state and local workers and services across the state.”
- Further, the unions said politics, not policy, have led this process, adding that they have not been heard at all in the discussions surrounding the mandate.
What they’re saying: Newsom celebrated the Senate’s vote on Friday, saying Californians are one step closer to protecting against price spikes.
- “I’m grateful to our partners in the Senate for helping to save Californians money at the pump,” Newsom said. “Price spikes cost consumers more than $2 billion last year, and we’re taking the action necessary to help put this to an end.”
- Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones (Santee) said Californians will be the only ones to pay the price for the political games Newsom and Democrats are playing.
- “Lame Duck Gavin Newsom pushed through a gas price hike right before the election just to feel relevant again,” Jones said. “Adding insult to injury, he’s now plotting to add yet another gas price hike of 65 cents per gallon. Californians need to know their Governor and progressive Democrat lawmakers are working overtime to increase costs at the pump and make gasoline so expensive that you’re forced into an electric car.”
