SACRAMENTO — The battle to repeal a likely 65-cent increase in gas prices appeared to die on Wednesday.
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee killed Senate Bill 2 despite the measure’s bipartisan support, Sen. Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) said in a press release Wednesday. Jones, who authored SB 2, said the bill would have repealed the new Low-Carbon Fuel Standard regulations passed by CARB in November.
SB 2 failed on a 3-2-3 vote as Sens. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista) voted against the bill, while Sens. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), Megan Dahle (R-Bieber), and Melissa Hurtado (D-Fresno) voted for the measure, citing the out-of-control cost of living and its burden on California families, Jones said. Sens. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), Caroline Menjivar (D-Burbank) and Sasha Perez (D-Pasadena) abstained from voting, thus killing the bill.
A request for comment sent to Blakespear regarding her vote was not returned by deadline.
Jones said the bill had bipartisan support among many legislators, but the committee opted to kill the legislation, thus putting more crushing levies on gas and residents.
