California Democrats Are Driving Gas Prices Sky High

For years, Governor Gavin Newsom has accused oil companies of price gouging, blaming them for California’s high gas prices. A new study from USC's Marshall School of Business, however, presents a different perspective, and the facts speak for themselves.

Michael Mische, a professor at USC, analyzed five decades of gas prices in California. His findings?

The true culprit isn’t corporate greed; it’s policy. Specifically, California’s environmental and regulatory mandates, primarily advocated by Democratic lawmakers, are driving prices higher.

Take the state’s unique fuel blend, a special recipe mandated by law yet not widely produced. This limitation on supply increases costs. Furthermore, California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, which Mische indicates led to a significant price surge in 2015, has only widened the price gap between California and the rest of the country.

The study clarifies that there's no widespread evidence of price gouging. Instead, it points to a complex web of regulations that accumulate costs throughout the oil and gas supply chain, ultimately impacting consumers at the pump.

The outcome? As of last week, Californians were paying an average of $4.81 per gallon — nearly $2 more than the national average.

Yet Newsom isn’t backing down. He continues to pursue a complete ban on new gas-powered car sales beginning in 2035, refusing to permit new oil and gas projects, reinforcing the same regulatory mindset that contributed to this mess initially.

High-minded policy may sound good on paper, but it’s difficult to promote when families are paying nearly $100 to fill up a gas tank.