Jason Gibbs | California’s Gas Prices Are So High Because Sacramento Wants Them High |
Americans are feeling the sting at the pump. Since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, global oil markets have gone haywire. Crude has topped $100 a barrel, U.S. gasoline futures spiked, and the national average for regular unleaded surged more than 27% in just weeks. The national average cost of gasoline was around $2.94 a gallon in February, but now is nearly $3.88, and thousands in the 27th Congressional District are feeling this reality every day as they make their commutes.
The attacks in the Middle East have delivered a painful reminder of how fragile energy markets remain.
Yet nowhere is the pain sharper than in California. Today, the statewide average for regular gas hovers around $5.50 per gallon — which is even higher than Hawaii! For a typical 15-gallon fill-up, that’s an extra $25-$30 compared to most of the country. The Iran conflict provided the spark, but don’t let California’s supermajority fool you: The tinder was already stacked high.
California’s punishing gas prices have been festering for decades, the predictable result of deliberate policy choices that prioritize environmental mandates over affordability and supply reality. While the rest of America benefits from abundant domestic........