Gavin Newsom faces calls to cancel gas tax as Trump acts

Key Points:

• California Governor Gavin Newsom is under pressure to suspend the state’s high gas taxes amid record gas prices, but he has no plans to follow President Trump’s proposal to suspend the federal gas tax.
• California’s gas prices averaged $6.16 per gallon, significantly higher than the national average of $4.52, due in part to the state’s 61-cent-per-gallon excise tax and other fees, compared to the federal tax of 18 cents per gallon.
• Republicans and some Democrats have introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax temporarily, but Newsom’s office dismissed Trump’s plan as a distraction that would harm road and bridge funding without guaranteeing consumer savings.
• Critics argue California’s energy policies, including the Cap-and-Invest program and reliance on foreign oil, contribute to high prices, while Newsom blames international conflicts and federal policies for increased costs at the pump.
• Public frustration is growing, with some calling for immediate relief from gas taxes to help working-class Californians, but Newsom remains committed to his current energy and tax policies despite mounting criticism.