1 minute
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R- Santa Clarita, joined Senator Andy Vidak and Assemblyman Jim Patterson's efforts to repeal the hidden gas tax consumers will see at the pump beginning January 1, 2015.
Senate Bill 5 and Assembly Bill 23 will exempt specified transportation fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and natural gas, from the state's cap-and-trade to stop the permanent tax hike.
In 2006, the Legislature passed AB 32 the “Global Warming Solutions Act.” This measured handed immense power to the non-elected California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB sets regulations and taxes on California business with the purpose of reducing greenhouse gases (GHG).
“Californian's do not deserve to be penalized by un-elected bureaucrats,” Wilk said. “I am all for clean air and doing what we can for climate change, but not at the expense of our economy and not with a regressive tax. At this point only Governor Brown can stop CARB from enforcing this tax.”
The non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office has projected users will see a 13-50 cent per gallon tax increase as a result of the CARB planned expansion to make transportation fuels subject to its cap and trade program.