California Lawmakers Fail To Suspend Summer Gas Tax Hike: Reports

ACROSS CALIFORNIA — Californians are not likely to see relief at the pump any time soon, the governor's office said this week.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in January proposed a suspension of the summer increase in the state's gasoline tax scheduled for July 1 but legislators will not act in time to provide that "immediate, limited relief," his office said in a statement.

Legislators needed to act by May 1 to suspend the annual 5.6-percent inflation adjustment set to kick in July 1, Politico reported.

Californians already pay the highest gas prices in the nation. As of Thursday, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in California was $5.685, while the national average was $4.141, according to AAA.

One year ago in California, the average price of a gallon of gas was $4.

California Republicans said this time around, it was the Democrats who failed to act to suspend the gas tax hike.

"Legislative Democrats just ran out the clock on suspending the gas tax," Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk said in a statement. "Actions speak louder than words, and they did nothing. Republicans have been calling for a one-year suspension of the 51.1-cent tax per gallon tax for over a year — a simple solution that would have provided immediate financial relief for California’s drivers. Sadly, it is business as usual in Sacramento, and consumers are again at the short end of the stick."

Newsom's office said they look forward to working with lawmakers on the governor's proposal for direct payments to Californians wrestling with rising prices.

"Helping offset the impact of inflation on California residents remains a top priority for the Governor, and his revised budget will include proposals to help Californians keep pace with rising costs," his office said. "The sooner we can move this package through the legislative process, the sooner we can deliver needed relief to Californians."