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Gas is getting more and more expensive. California lawmakers demand an investigation
sacebee.com ^ | January 30, 2019 | BRYAN ANDERSON

Posted on 01/30/2019 10:42:52 PM PST by lowbridge

California has the second highest fuel costs in the nation, with gas prices only rising in recent years.

A committee working on behalf of the California Energy Commission discovered an “unexplained surcharge” in September 2017 costing Californians over $17 billion since February 2015, or $1,700 for a family of four.

Now, nearly a year and a half later, lawmakers are taking notice.

Nineteen Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Xavier Becerra earlier this week asking him to lead an investigation.

“There is a surcharge that began showing up between refineries and our gas tanks in the distribution and retailing network in California that began in California in 2015,” said Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-Greenbrae.

In the letter, Levine and his colleagues told Becerra the surcharge averaged 2 cents per gallon from 2000 to 2014 but soared in 2015 after the Torrance refinery fire. The cost spiked to an average of 24 cents a gallon in 2018.

UC Berkeley Professor Severin Borenstein chaired the Petroleum Market Advisory Committee, which authored the report for the state’s energy commission.

Borenstein said in the report that, even when accounting for California’s gasoline tax and greenhouse gas reduction costs, prices have “exhibited a continuous and unexplained differential compared to the rest of the country.”

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: berkeley; california; energy; gas; gasolinetax; greenbrae; hydrocarbons; maga; marclevine; opec; severinborenstein; sgasolinetax; taxes; xavierbecerra
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To: lowbridge

Funniest part of this story is how the dumbasses of California believe that their “elected” dumbasses actually want an investigation! “Because we care” hahahahahahahahahaha


21 posted on 01/30/2019 11:54:29 PM PST by albie
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To: lowbridge

The state gets pretty upset when someone besides them tacks on fees on gasoline. When they do it, it’s a righteous move of course.

Sounds like they think a crime may have been committed. I can think of one the state perpetrated on the public.

Of course, it was old as a necessity, and my brain dead fellow Californian’s voted for it.

How can you explain people this absolutely stupid?


22 posted on 01/31/2019 12:07:14 AM PST by DoughtyOne (01/26/18 DJIA 30 stocks $26,616.71 48.794% > open 11/07/16 $215.71 from 50% increase in 1.2183 yrs)
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To: Vendome

Still, gas has dipped below $3 in the last month

...

That’s the Trump discount.


23 posted on 01/31/2019 1:26:05 AM PST by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
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To: lowbridge
"California lawmakers demand an investigation"

Sure, hike the gas tax an extra cent to pay for the investigation and let's find out.

24 posted on 01/31/2019 1:32:36 AM PST by Trump20162020
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To: lowbridge

More hilarity from the land of fruits and nuts.


25 posted on 01/31/2019 1:58:06 AM PST by Silentgypsy ( “If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.”__Scorpion)
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To: lowbridge
Forbes... both the summer and winter blends of gasoline used in California are more expensive to produce than those used in any other state... .
26 posted on 01/31/2019 2:12:07 AM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
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To: Pontiac
Taxes are a big part yes. But other states have taxes as well.

Right now, Kalifornia has dropped into 2nd place, as good ol' Pennsylvania pulled into the lead, thanks to our coalition of Rats'n'Rinos.

But it looks like Kalifornia will regain their no. 1 status this year with a healthy 7.5 cent increase in July.

Gas Pains: States Where You Pay the Highest Gasoline Taxes

27 posted on 01/31/2019 2:28:44 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Fox News: "We distort, you deride")
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To: lowbridge

One of the highest gas taxes in the country, carbon taxes, special formula so CA is cut off from the rest of the national gas market, all imposed by Democrats and now they are complaining of the results of their own policies.


28 posted on 01/31/2019 2:59:39 AM PST by C19fan
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To: lowbridge

I bet gas is cheaper in Hawaii.


29 posted on 01/31/2019 3:39:12 AM PST by Daniel Ramsey (Thank YOU President Trump, finally we can do what America does best, to be the best)
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To: faithhopecharity
" but investing any significant capital in such an anti-business, high tax, and restrictive regulation state.... would be NUTS"

If it moves tax it (or control it). This will not stand, as CALPers moves towards bankruptcy, CA is so messed up, it will all have to change or it will be Venezuela without it's own currency.

FWIW, I recently drove a full size van full of occupants and I was stunned. It hauled even with a full load, great throttle response, and no lag which had me wondering if this big 3 sponsored vehicle had something greater than a V8 under the hood or a supercharger.

No, it was Natural Gas Powered. With these engines cleaner on average by 30% this is a no brainer for CA other than the cost of the retrofit hardware and compared to boutique blend gasoline, why CA didn't mandate this, I'll never understand.

30 posted on 01/31/2019 3:43:54 AM PST by taildragger ("Do you hear the people Singing? Singing the Songs of Angry Men!")
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To: BenLurkin

Don’t forget a really cold winter in a lot of the rest of the country and maxed out refining capacity. :-)


31 posted on 01/31/2019 3:45:46 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
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To: albie

You nailed it.


32 posted on 01/31/2019 3:49:47 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: lowbridge

What would happen if nobody was willing to refine it for them? Can the Gov just declare it an emergency and let any type of gas in? If so, why have the law?


33 posted on 01/31/2019 3:52:15 AM PST by marajade (Skywalker)
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To: Daniel Ramsey
I bet gas is cheaper in Hawaii.

You are correct, sir!

Gas Buddy website shows Honolulu at $2.97...L.A. at $3.73.

34 posted on 01/31/2019 3:54:34 AM PST by Fightin Whitey
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To: lowbridge

From looking at the charts of gas prices in California versus the national average, it appears something around three months ago kicked in another 30 cents premium.


35 posted on 01/31/2019 4:01:24 AM PST by Chad_the_Impaler
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To: BenLurkin

It’s also very likely that those stupid Cafe blends California demands are adding significant costs.

L


36 posted on 01/31/2019 4:03:24 AM PST by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance)
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To: lowbridge

Funny - the lawmakers who made the tax laws that make it so expensive demand an investigation of themselves....can’t make this crap up.
Biloxi area has Premium for under $2.50 ... was under $2.30 a few weeks ago but crude keeps creeping up.


37 posted on 01/31/2019 4:21:06 AM PST by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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To: lowbridge

Borenstein said in the report that, even when accounting for California’s gasoline tax and greenhouse gas reduction costs, prices have “exhibited a continuous and unexplained differential compared to the rest of the country.”
*************************************************************

Well, idiots!, let me explain it for you. YOUR Democratic Party controls gasoline prices in California! Period!

Laughably, your calling for an investigation of yourselves!


38 posted on 01/31/2019 5:04:19 AM PST by Cen-Tejas
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To: Daniel Ramsey

I was in Hawaii in September. Filled my rental car up twice. Gas was a few cents cheaper than in Cali.


39 posted on 01/31/2019 6:13:58 AM PST by sheana
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To: JoSixChip

As low as $1.87 in TX.


40 posted on 01/31/2019 6:31:47 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.S)
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