California’s gas tax jumps to 63.4 cents per gallon — the highest in the nation — as families continue to get crushed by the state’s cost-of-living crisis
CA State Assemblymember Carl DeMaio today blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative Democrats for allowing another gas tax hike to take effect on July 1 — warning that California families will once again be forced to pay more just to get to work, take their kids to school, and buy basic necessities.
“California families are already getting crushed by the cost of living, but Gavin Newsom and CA Democrats are still spiking gas prices on them again. This is yet another punch in the gut to working families who are already paying the highest gas prices in the nation,” stated DeMaio.
Beginning July 1, California’s gas tax will increase from 61.2 cents per gallon to 63.4 cents per gallon. The diesel tax will also increase from 46.6 cents per gallon to 48.2 cents per gallon.
DeMaio warned that the official gas tax is only part of the burden. When state taxes, fees, and costly fuel mandates are added together, Sacramento adds about $1.20 to every gallon of gas sold in California — costing drivers hundreds of dollars each year.
“Every gallon of gas costs more in California because Sacramento politicians keep piling on taxes, fees, and regulations,” DeMaio said. “Then they act shocked when families cannot afford to live here anymore.”
DeMaio outlined how Newsom and CA Democrats are making California’s cost-of-living crisis worse:
HIGHER GAS TAXES: California’s gas tax will increase to 63.4 cents per gallon on July 1 — forcing drivers to pay even more in a state already known for punishing drivers.
“CA Democrats have created a system where the gas tax goes up automatically every year while families get no automatic relief,” DeMaio said. “That is not responsible budgeting — that is government price gouging.”
COSTLY FUEL MANDATES: California’s special fuel rules and climate mandates continue to drive prices higher, while Newsom and legislative Democrats refuse to support meaningful reforms to reduce costs at the pump.
“California’s gas prices are not high by accident. They are high because politicians in Sacramento designed a system that makes energy more expensive and then forces working families to pay the bill,” DeMaio said.
NO REAL RELIEF FOR FAMILIES: Despite California families facing record-high costs for gas, groceries, housing, healthcare, and utilities, Newsom and CA Democrats continue to reject proposals to suspend gas tax increases and roll back costly regulations.
“Instead of lowering costs, CA Democrats keep finding new ways to make families pay more,” DeMaio stated. “They raised healthcare costs, they advanced billions in tax hikes in the state budget, and now they are spiking gas prices again on July 1.”
DeMaio has repeatedly fought Sacramento’s efforts to make driving more expensive for California families.
DeMaio led the floor fight against AB 1421, the Mileage Tax bill, and introduced ACA 14 to guarantee voters the right to approve or reject any new Mileage Tax before it could take effect. Assembly Democrats killed the proposal.
“Sacramento politicians are not just raising the gas tax — they are building an entire system to make driving more expensive,” DeMaio said. “I’ve fought the Mileage Tax, I’ve fought costly fuel mandates, and I will continue fighting every effort to make working families pay more just for driving in California.”
DeMaio said the latest gas tax hike proves Newsom and legislative Democrats are completely out of touch with working families.
“Newsom and CA Democrats had a choice: suspend the gas tax hike and provide relief — or make Californians pay more,” DeMaio concluded. “Once again, they chose to make citizens pay more.”