—Rep. Michelle Steele of Seal Beach is spearheading an effort by 12 California Republicans.
All 12 California Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board asking it to postpone a Nov. 8 vote on the gas price increase policy.
Republicans have accused the board, known as CARB, of “failing to provide full transparency” about the consumer costs of new environmental policies being debated. letter A report sent Thursday by the Congressional delegation said the vote should be postponed so CARB can “focus on analyzing and communicating the policy’s impact on the state’s consumers.”
CARB spokesman David Cregan said CARB did not respond to the letter, but that the vote is scheduled for Nov. 8 “due to state timelines required to move rulemakings to a vote.” He said there was.
The board of directors Economic impact report The report said last year that stricter carbon reduction policies under consideration could increase gasoline prices by as much as 47 cents a gallon next year.
CARB later backed away from its projections, saying that while it was a requirement under state law, it lacked a “real-world” basis. The agency acknowledged that new policies promoting electric vehicles could cause gasoline prices to rise, but said it could not predict exactly how much.
The letter was led by Rep. Michelle Steele (R-Seal Beach). Fierce re-election battle With Democrat Derek Tran.
transparency And the level of cooperation between CARB and lawmakers became a bipartisan issue during this month’s special session. This legislative session ended with a bill that could mandate the amount of reserve gasoline that refiners must have on hand to ensure a steady supply of fuel.
Also on Thursday, state Sen. Rosilicy Ochoa Bogue (R-Yucaipa) issued the following statement: news release He complained of a “lack of answers” to a list of questions signed by 25 Republicans about the impact of the vote on gas prices.
Rep. Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) told CARB officials during a Sept. 18 hearing that he and other Republican lawmakers sent a letter to CARB Chair Leanne Randolph on May 14 requesting information. he complained. I know we are a super-minority party. ”
Rep. Mike Gipson (D-Carson) sided with his colleagues, saying, “I think it’s unacceptable that no one, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, doesn’t have the decency to get a letter answered.”
Five days later, Randolph answered questions from Republicans.
