UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT

By Bob Walsh

 

Most people in the formerly great state of California agree that the cost of gasoline here is too high.  Unfortunately the people who make the decisions can't seem to get the idea that a good way to lower those prices would be to lower or remove some of the very high fees and taxes on gasoline, or reduce the regulations on the refiners.  Instead they have decided the way to "fix the problem" is to INCREASE the regulatory burden.

The God-Emperor of the formerly great state of California, Gavin Newsom, called a special session of the legislature to "deal with the problem" and yesterday signed the legislation that the special session produced.  

The new law allows the (unelected) California Energy Commission to mandate that the oil industry in CA increase their storage of gasoline (without necessarily increasing the storage capacity in the state) to release during maintenance and unscheduled shutdowns of their facilities to smooth out price spikes caused by shortages.  These shortages can also occur during the annual switch-over from summer blend to winter blend gasoline.  CA is the only state that requires these differences, which require shutdowns of equipment in order to accomplish.   

Gavin's response to these complaints by the industry is to assert that the "gas companies" are lying sacks of shit and are lying to and manipulating the public in California (but not 

elsewhere I guess).

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texas gas prices

 

 

 

 

 

And we think these are high.