Oil

Governor Jerry Brown made an impassioned plea today that Senators pass AB 398—his signature legislation to extend the state’s cap-and-trade program, saying: “This is the most important vote of your life.” He is right about that. 

Four Democrats currently have the power to determine who really runs the state of California’s fossil fuel policies—policymakers or a major energy company named Sempra.

The litmus test: Whether these Democrats vote for SB 57, a bill authored by Henry Stern that requires the state and Sempra’s subsidiary Southern California Gas to reveal what caused the biggest methane well blowout in US history before the Aliso Canyon gas reserve is allowed to reopen.

California oil companies churning out gasoline have gouged Californians for billions of dollars at the pump for years. That’s why Californians that already pay among the highest prices for gas in the nation should not be stuck with a $52 billion tab for fixing the state’s roads.

Instead, lawmakers should vote no on Governor Jerry Brown’s SB 1 legislation until it puts a Gouge Gap Tax on oil refiners instead of taxing consumers at the pump.