Sacramento, CA…Surrounded by legislators and community leaders in the rotunda of the California State Capitol, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to help prevent gas price spikes and save consumers money at the pump.
The legislation — ABX2-1 authored by Assemblymembers Gregg Hart and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and Senator Nancy Skinner — allows the state to require oil refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of fuel to avoid supply shortages that create higher gasoline prices for consumers and higher profits for the industry. It also authorizes the California Energy Commission to require refiners to plan for resupply during refiner maintenance outages. A signing message can be found here.
“Price spikes have cost Californians billions of dollars over the years, and we’re not waiting around for the industry to do the right thing — we’re taking action to prevent these price spikes and save consumers money at the pump. Now, the state has the tools to make sure they backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance so there aren’t shortages that drive up prices. I’m grateful to our partners in the Senate and Assembly for acting quickly to push this forward and help deliver relief for Californians.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
“With this new law, big oil companies are now responsible for stabilizing prices at the pump. It’s a critical accomplishment, but our work is not done. I will continue to fight to lower the cost of living, because housing, groceries and everyday necessities must be more affordable for all Californians.” — Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas)
“Today, we’re coming together to provide needed relief at the pump and help keep hard-earned dollars in the pockets of Californians. I’m grateful to Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, and members of the Senate and Assembly for taking swift action on this critical issue. That said, our work isn’t stopping. We’re going to continue to grind away to help lower the cost of living for folks in every corner of the Golden State. It’s a necessity.” — Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast)
Why it’s needed
Price spikes at the pump are profit spikes for oil companies, and they’re overwhelmingly caused by refiners not backfilling supplies when they go down for maintenance. If this proposal had been in effect last year, Californians could have saved hundreds of millions — if not billions — of dollars at the pump according to analysis from the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight (DPMO):
Experts have come out in support of this measure, including Stanford economists who praised the proposal for being “an economically sound policy that addresses an important problem in a well-targeted way” and the “additional supply would free up refinery capacity to serve Nevada and Arizona, also reducing prices in these markets.”
Supporters of the bill include mayors, local leaders, consumer organizations, environmental advocates, labor, business leaders and consumer groups. Last month, the Governor and supporters met and discussed how gasoline price spikes affect millions of Californians’ everyday lives, and shared why this plan will help California families.
How we got here
The Governor convened a special session to focus on saving Californians money at the pump. The proposal authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to require petroleum refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of refined fuel throughout the distribution chain to avoid supply shortages that create higher prices at the pump for consumers. It also authorizes the CEC to require refiners to plan for resupply during scheduled refiner maintenance. The text of the proclamation calling for a special session is available here.
Following gasoline price spikes in 2022, Governor Newsom called for a special session and worked in partnership with the Legislature to sign into law a package of reforms holding Big Oil accountable.
California’s new watchdog found that higher gasoline prices were caused by a suspicious market transaction, refinery maintenance without properly preparing for it, and more.
In January of this year, the watchdog sent Governor Newsom and the legislature a letter outlining specific proposals to reform California’s gasoline spot market, which included a minimum inventory requirement to prevent price spikes due to lack of stable supply.
The state’s gasoline price watchdog also found that, in 2023, gasoline prices spiked largely due to refineries going offline without adequately planning to backfill supplies, which caused refining margins to spike as spot and retail prices jumped — indicating that refinery margins made up the largest proportion of the price spikes between July and September 2023.
Convening experts, community leaders, and consumer advocates
The Governor today also announced his appointments to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee:
Martha Dina Arguello, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Arguello has been Executive Director at Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles since 2007. She was Director of Health and Environmental Programs at Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles from 1999 to 2007. Arguello is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Standing Together Against Neighborhood Drilling and Californians for a Health and Green Economy. She is a member of the California Air Resources Board AB 32 Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee of Californians for Pesticide Reform. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Arguello is a Democrat.
Michael Jorgenson, of Mill Valley, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Jorgenson has served as Supervisory Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2018. He was Deputy County Counsel IV at the Marin County Counsel’s Office from 2017 to 2018. Jorgenson served in several roles at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2003 to 2017, including Deputy Attorney General in the Public Rights Division, Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Division and Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Division. He was an Associate at Berman Tabacco from 2001 to 2003 and at Kelly Gill Sherburne & Herrera from 1999 to 2001. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History from University of Michigan. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jorgenson is a Democrat.
Neale Mahoney, of Stanford, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Mahoney has been a Professor of Economics at Stanford University since 2020. He was a Special Policy Advisor for Economic Policy at The White House from 2022 to 2023. Mahoney was a Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago from 2013 to 2020. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Brown University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mahoney is a Democrat.
Deborah “Debbie” Meeks, of Walnut Creek, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Meeks has been Manager of United States West Coast Policy and Business Coordinator at Shell USA since 2021. She was a Manager of Alliances and Portfolios at Shell US Retail from 2017 to 2021. Meeks was Americas and Mexico Regional Manager, Principal Account Executive, and Senior Account Manager at Shell Catalysts and Technologies from 1995 to 2017. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Meeks is a Democrat.
Norman Rogers, of Santa Ana, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Rogers has been Second Vice-President at United Steelworkers Local 675 since 2021, and a Plant Operator in Oil Movements at Marathon Petroleum Corporation since 2018. He was a Plant Operator for Oil Movements at Tesoro Refinery from 2013 to 2018. Rogers was a member of the Fire Brigade at the Carson Refinery from 2001 to 2021. He was Plant Operator for Oil Movements at BP from 2001 to 2013, and at Arco Refinery from 1999 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rogers is registered without party preference.
Astrid Zuniga, of Modesto, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Zuniga has been President at United Domestic Workers/AFSCME 3930 since 2024 and was Vice President from 2016 to 2024. She has been Executive Secretary/Treasurer at the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Central Labor Council since 2013, and an In-Home Support Services Caregiver since 1998. Zuniga is a member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board and the Women’s Advisory Committee for AFSCME International. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Zuniga is a Democrat.
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Gavin is such an idiot. He structurally has made our state the highest cost place for oil companies to do business. We all pay the price, and rural Calif. pays the biggest price. Maybe that is by design.
Speaking of idiots, this is the Hamacrat’s America.
Imagine losing your loved ones because of pure stupidity?
The Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a myriad of lawsuits against various police and fire departments across the states of Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Indiana that “discriminate” against black and female applicants after they required all prospective employees to take written as well as fitness tests.
Last week, Durham, North Carolina settled with the DOJ in a lawsuit. “Employers should identify and eliminate practices that have a disparate impact based on race” US Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina said. As a consequence, the Durham Fire Department is being forced to pay out nearly $1 million to people that failed and employ 16 of them.
The DOJ claimed that the tests are not relevant to firefighters doing their jobs; yet a quick perusal of an online practice tests from the “Comprehensive Examination Battery” test cited in the North Carolina complaint demonstrates how relevant the questions are. One question asks how many 60-foot hoses are required to reach a building 350 feet away. Not knowing could mean the difference between life and death for the people inside of the building, the outlet reported.
The DOJ’s civil rights unit filed a lawsuit Friday against South Bend, Indiana, insisting that “South Bend uses a written examination that discriminates against Black applicants and a physical fitness test that discriminates against female applicants.”
Cash awards were paid to those black employees who failed the written tests; however, most blacks are passing the tests. The DOJ lawsuits make no effort to explain why the test was discriminatory against some but not other black applicants.
But that was just one of many lawsuits that are labeling the written and physical tests as discriminatory as more black and female applicants are failing them at a higher percent than other applicants, according to the Daily Wire.
In May, the DOJ dumbed-down the employment criteria in Cobb County, Georgia. “The County’s use of these employment practices disproportionately removed qualified African Americans from consideration for a firefighter position. The complaint further alleges that the credit check and the use of the written exam to rank applicants do not lawfully identify the best qualified candidates for the firefighter position,” the DOJ said.
In this month, the DOJ also decided that Maryland State Police should have to pay $2.75 million to females who couldn’t be inducted into the service because they failed to meet the fitness levels demanded. There were also complaints about the written examinations that demanded police officers should know how to add up the value of stolen property in the same way that a middle school student could do.
Seems Arizona and California Democrats are ONE AND THE SAME
Hundreds of Arizona voters have commercial addresses from strip clubs to roller rinks as their primary residence on their voter registration forms, Breitbart reported Tuesday. The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) discovered business addresses for an abortion clinic, a strip club, a high school, and the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility being used.
PILF has released a video showing where some of these businesses are located and the registered voters are not. J. Christian Adams, the president of PILF, told Breitbart News that the state’s voter registration form makes it clear that a business address cannot be used as a primary residence. “Election officials should do what PILF did — they should take the voter roll, see how many people are registered at commercial businesses, and do something more than nothing,” Adams said.
Arizona voters were quite imaginative about their use of business addresses, claiming to live at an abortion clinic, gas stations, liquor stores, vacant lots, schools, a smoke shop, a bank, fast-food chains, a strip club, golf courses, roller rinks, bars, and even the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility.
Adams told Breitbart that Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes should take steps to correct the problem prior to November’s presidential election or PILF will initiate legal action to rectify the error. “This is a pervasive problem throughout the state … let’s hope Arizona does something without having to be sued,” Adams said.
An even more grievous voting issue arose when the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that 100,000 people with unconfirmed citizenship were allowed to vote in November.
Breitbart noted that it has also revealed voter registration problems like this in in Clark County, Nevada, finding that voters were registered to vote at strip clubs, casinos, Harry Reid International Airport, smoke shops, gas stations, and other commercial enterprises.
PILF asked Clark County Registrar Lorena Portillo to correct the problems in June and when Portillo balked, PILF filed a lawsuit. She quickly decided to get serious about removing people without a valid address.
OH REALLY GAVIN, YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO CHARGE “US” MORE?
THEN WHY ARE THEY (STATE REGULATORS NOT ELECTED BUT APPOINTED BY DEMS) GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTIONS TO VOTE ON ANOTHER 50 TO 85 CENTS A GALLON TAX HIKE?
OH THAT’S RIGHT WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION SO IT DOESN’T HURT ANY DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN RUNNING BY CHANCE?
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-10-15/state-republicans-urge-carb-to-hold-off-on-vote-that-could-increase-gasoline-prices
Democrats have no common sense or real world skills. All of their actions make it harder for all of us to survive. Taking from someone else and trying bribe us with someone else’s money is wrong on so many levels
If only they’d write and sign a bill “Democrats forbidden to raise taxes, or face 10 year Federal Prison Sentence with illegal foreign trespassers”
Things that helped folks survive Hurricane Helene
Gas Cars and trucks
Gas Stoves
Gas Water heaters
Gas generators
Gas chainsaws
Diesel trucks
Diesel Heavy Equipment
Cash
Things that were useless
Electric cars
Electric appliances
Debit and credit cards
City buses
Money sent to other countries
A woman who was terrorized out of her Aurora, CO apartment by the vicious Tren de Aragua gang has told ABC News to get a reality check after one of its hosts minimized the damage done in an interview with Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH).
“I feel like it’s a slap in the face,” Cindy Romero told Fox News Digital. “How many gangs is OK to have in Aurora? How many properties is OK to take over? How many people, who are citizens paying their bills, is it OK to displace?”
She and her husband Edward left their apartment after filming a shootout between members of the violent Venezuelan gang. Cindy Romero’s comments came after Vance and ABC News host Martha Raddatz strongly disagreed during a Sunday interview about the serious impact of Venezuelan gangs in Aurora, the Daily Mail noted.
Raddatz interrupted Vance over what she said were a “handful of problems” in Aurora and that gangs had not “taken over” apartment complexes and “invaded and conquered” the community. “I’m going to stop you because I know exactly what happened,” Raddatz told Vance. “I’m going to stop you. ‘The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes’ and the mayor said, ‘Our dedicated police officers have acted on those concerns.’ A handful of problems.”
Vance responded, “Martha, do you hear yourself? Only a handful of apartment complexes in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem and not Kamala Harris’ open border?”
Romero appeared on stage with former President Donald Trump who was in Aurora on Friday for a rally. He eviscerated the Biden-Harris administration’s lax border policies and proposed using various federal agencies to “hunt down, arrest and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country.”
In her brief speech to the crowd, Romero recounted how she and her husband had recorded a group of armed men shoving their way into a nearby house, after which a shootout occurred. She said police largely ignore her 911 calls.
“I feel like the mayor and the governor and the [police] all downplay the situation,” Romero said. “I was pushed out of my apartment by gang activity, people carrying guns in the hallway and patrolling the grounds with guns.”
A company that manages real estate locations in Aurora, Colorado has confirmed that the Tren de Aragua gang has taken over “several” apartment complexes and that gang members savagely beat one of its workers after he refused to let the gang members take over a vacant apartment room.
HERE’S WHY THE PEDOPHILECRATS LOVE AN OPEN BORDER
The Free Press published a chilling account of where some of these children have ended up and how an organization called Shepherd’s Watch, is trying to combat the epidemic of sex trafficking. “I couldn’t ignore it anymore,” and woman who identified under the name “Lisa” told the outlet.
Shepherd’s Watch investigators can’t arrest anyone, but they work to compile the information and the evidence that they then hand over to local police. “Law enforcement is understaffed and stretched too thin,” said Lisa. “That’s where we come in.”
The woman showed The Free Press reporter how the sex traffickers advertise their product: on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook. The ads show females wearing lingerie and covering their faces to prevent people from guessing their ages. “Each week, we track over 12,000 ads for women in Houston, 2,600 in San Antonio, 3,500 in Austin, and 14,000 in Dallas,” Lisa told The Free Press.
Lisa said the sex trafficking of migrant girls has “exploded” since the Biden-Harris administration lost interest in securing the southern border and properly vetting immigration. “Nearly all of my sex-trafficking rings now are migrant girls. The ads exploded within the first three months of the border being open. We started noticing new sites and ads in Spanish. That was very few before. Then sites dedicated to Latino girls popped up everywhere.”
A lot of the trafficking is handled by members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as well as other gangs that have proliferated around the US. When it comes to sex trafficking the gang members entice children across the border with promises of jobs and then demand payment for their services. Payment is then often made through prostitution.
The report adds to concerns surrounding some 300,000 immigrant children who have not been accounted for the administration’s Department of Health and Human Services.
How do you feel about the Electoral College wiping out your California presidential election vote? Your vote means nothing as it does not contribute to the election’s ultimate outcome.
How do you feel about trump talk today with British Reporter ? A total fucking disaster. You would be spot on …
Bill Clinton was out stomping for Harris in Ga. He reminded me of Muhammad Ali his left hand was shaking so bad he couldn’t hold on to the microphone.
Its called “stumping” you fuking idiot. Go lick Dons gonads.
Well, Bill has been doing a nice job writing Trump’s ads on the border :).
I’d like to stomp your head in!
Sniveler change your dipper you smell like shi*…,,,
He sounded like a clown. Had absolutely zero grasp on any questions asked him. Behavior of a child. Trying to attack the commentator for asking real serious economic questions. He had absolutely nothing. He was Weaving and Deflecting. Basically admitted he has had contact with Putin and Russia Russia Russia ….
This past week his Handlers have had to pull his lunatic ass out of interviews three times. JD Vance where did they find this brainless moron ? If trump were to die. This backward America hating lier. Would be your President.. Frightening….
Trumps Health Records. Does anyone on the planet actually thick Donnie Boy is in good health. Because 95 % of the people on Earth know his Mind is Freaking Burnt TOAST… TRYING TO MAKE AMERICA LOOK LIKE SHIT AGAIN… FU— OFF ORANGE MAGIT
My feet hurt when I wear high heels, Sniveler
Hmm, Zero wars, $2 gas, 0% inflation. One million people still alive in Ukraine & Russia. Bring back the mean tweets and fake tan.
So many lies from the Republicans.
The economic data from the Biden years, the new investments in America for infrastructure , the stock market, GDP, employment.
Compare this to the don the con years, the insane denial of anything rational, as he tried to shove his fascist plutocratic view on all of us.
Our news reporting is unreliable, especially the propaganda Fox, and the other reich wing media.
Make no mistake, Putin , Xi , Un, all are barraging American social media with the hopes of America installing the Manchurian don the con.
So many solid respected Republicans in the military, governors, past congress members all say NO to the idea of another term for this traitor.
Right, the same “solid republicans” and military who did the treasonous Afghanistan withdrawal? The same brilliant people who lifted the sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and let them have another $6 billion besides. The same “brilliant” people who funded by their actions the Oct 7th attack? Your side not only wants to kill babies you seem to just like death of all kinds!!!!!
Go suck on Dons sphincter you freaking Trumpster moron.
Can I!!!!!?
Sincerely,
Anti
Hmm, seems like someone got a little to close to the truth. It’s ok to admit it. You will feel better. The Demoncrat party and your “friends” in Washington really do hate you. Vote GOP the peace and happiness party 🙂
You mean the Hope, Change and Joy is actually in the GOP side?
OH LOOKY, KAMALA IS DOING SO BAD WITH BLACK MALE VOTERS SHE TRYING NOW TO BUY THEIR VOTES WITH TAX PAYER MONEY AND SHE DOESN’T CARE IF SHE’S VIOLATING CIVIL RIGHTS LAW, GO FIGURE.
In an interview with Charlamage tha God on The Breakfast Club on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris answered a question about reparations and said she was all for it. She said “on the point of reparations, it has to be studied. There’s no question about that. And I’ve been very clear about that position.” A “study” on the feasibility of reparations has traditionally been the first step in passing legislation to bring cash reparations to a black community. Harris has been struggling in polling among black men and her media venture to Detroit to speak on the popular radio show was an effort to gain some of their votes.
“What’s your stance on reparations?” She was asked in an informal town hall. “We all know that America became great, you know, off the backs of free black labor. How progressive are you on making it a priority and righting America’s wrongs? It’s understood that you are running for president for all people of America. Asking for specifics for black communities doesn’t mean n’o, don’t do for others,’ but black Americans are heavily asked to vote Democrat in every election for over half a century with very little in return. What are your plans to address these very important issues and change that narrative?”
Harris had a lengthy answer in which she discussed numerous plans for federal cash assistance programs, including reparations.
“So to your point, yes, I am running to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “That being said, I do have clear eyes about the disparities that exist and the context in which they exist, meaning history, to your point. “So my agenda? Well, first of all, on the point of reparations, it has to be studied. There’s no question about that. And I’ve been very clear about that position.”
She then delved into tenets of her economic plan, claiming that she wants to increase home ownership in the black community and would do so by building more homes across the United States. She had previously said her goal was to build 3 million more homes in the US. She offers a policy of $25,000 downpayment assistance for first time homebuyers, which many economists have said would do little more than raise the costs of homes by $25,000 as everyone involved in the real estate transaction tries to get hold of that free money.
Harris also promised a $50,000 tax deduction for start-up businesses, which is an increase from the current $5,000, which she says is not enough. Additionally, she has promised to provide 1 million $20,000 loans for black entrepreneurs only, which is actually in violation of Civil Rights law.
Beyond that, she said that she intends to prioritize healthcare for “black people, and black men in particular,” in terms of providing cancer screenings “and to make sure that people are actually going to get the screenings.” Her plan to allow Medicaid funds to cover home health aids is also something that she thinks is an essential for black Americans.
We can only hope for a trifecta- the Dems control the House, Senate, White House.
Law enforcement would be renewed, which has gone missing even with Biden’s Garland, a Republican who clearly let the traitor don off the hook.
He also has allowed the states to deny millions the right to vote, which the previous Atty General tried to reverse reinstating the vote for legal minority voters.
Republicans have a real distance for the Constitution, and law , that believe wealth grants immunity from prosecution.
Law enforcement must be restored.
Anyone seen my beach chair.
Remember the electricity deregulation debacle?
Their tool was short the market to raise prices. The generators colluded to cause an artificial shortage. Remember? brownouts in the Winter, WTF ?
Newsom is addressing this price raising tool the oil cos used to cause high fuel prices. Remember the high gas prices? While oil tankers idled in the Bay, the oil cos were not off loading their crude.
The oil cos are businesses. #1 for any business is profit.
Some businesses have morals, sadly most do not.
The bigger cos get the more craven for profits they become.
History is filled with this.
Gov Newsom has the right idea, oil cos must maintain adequate reserves , why the law. Remember only government can regulate corporations.
Corporations will even cause wars, as we saw with cheney and the near bankrupt Halliburton he headed . Miraculously after the Iraq war started, Halliburton became one of the wealthiest corporations at the time.
Corruption in government is not new, allowing an attack on American soil to then start a war has happened, and may repeat again, if profit craven people are in office.
But you love Cheney and wholesale death now right?
Trump is the Father of IVF … More like the Father of Lying… Or the King of total Bull Shit.
Republicans out it’s time to put our Nation First
So the Dems have been putting America first the last 4 years? 🙂 oh my
New Record High today on the Stock Market. Probably because Harris actually has a vision for America. That does not include HATE AND DIVISION
Wall street is starting to feel a Trump admin is on the way 🙂
True That …
Trump saying America is in some state of decline. Is saying abolish our constitution. Install his co conspirators like Bannon in his Administration. Let’s send this America Hating criminal INSURRECTIONIST OUT of OUR LIVES FOREVER. AND SEND HIM TO WHERE HE BELONGS. PRISON …
You have been doing lawfare for 8 years already. Give up
Trump’s thirty nine minute music fest. OMG COMPLETELY DEMENTED
So HILARIOUS. AND THEN CALLED JANUARY SIXTH A DAY OF LOVE. HIS BRAIN IS TOTALLY GONE
The con is in his own world, so are the MAGAs.
Time to stop this crazy train.
It’s the WEAVE. But we all call that bull shit nonsense. Lack of character. Flat out a lying criminal. A convicted felon and a adjudicated rapist out on bail.
His crowd was not as large as Arnold Palmers penis. Just Saying. Maybe he is fantasizing about a day of love with arnie’s Shlong …