California drivers are now being pummeled with the highest gas prices in America after new taxes went into effect on July 1. To inflict the maximum possible pain on consumers, California has tied gas tax increases directly to inflation. The more that government-imposed inflation hits them, the higher the gas prices! Gas prices there have surged to the highest in the nation this summer, surpassing even Alaska and Hawaii.
According to AAA, the average price of gasoline in the United States was $3.51 on July 17. In California, it was a whopping $4.75. Motorists in some towns are paying more than $6 per gallon. The state of Hawaii only has a single oil refinery and gas there was an average of $4.69 the same day.
The third- and fourth-highest gas prices in the nation are in progressive Washington and Oregon, at $4.26 per gallon. Nevada clocks in with the fifth-highest prices at $4 per gallon. Even in Alaska, which has had notoriously high gas prices due to distribution issues over the years, consumers are now paying an average of only $3.86 per gallon by comparison.
The California legislature adopted an insane policy of increasing gas taxes every year based on July 1, which is tied directly to the rate of inflation. This is the craziest policy that anyone could ever have dreamed up.
If inflation rises, which drives up the price of gas, the gas tax increases! There’s not even a legitimate reason for this. However, we’re sure that the Democrats in the legislature would tell you that they’re “fighting climate change” by ripping off motorists. It’s no wonder that more people are moving away from California every year compared to every other state.
