{"id":1771,"date":"2026-05-13T18:33:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/newsom-still-opposes-gas-tax-holiday-in-california-as-prices-soar-heres-why\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:33:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:33:42","slug":"newsom-still-opposes-gas-tax-holiday-in-california-as-prices-soar-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/newsom-still-opposes-gas-tax-holiday-in-california-as-prices-soar-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsom still opposes gas tax holiday in California as prices soar. Here\u2019s why"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Amid soaring gas prices following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, proposals to suspend California\u2019s gas taxes are getting a no-go from Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n

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California has the highest gas tax in the nation at 61.2 cents per gallon, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.<\/p>\n

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According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in California reached about $6.16 on Monday, May 11. Prices have climbed about $1.50 per gallon in the state since the Iran war began.<\/p>\n

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President Donald Trump on Monday said he plans to suspend the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon to reduce prices, CNN reported. But that would require congressional approval.<\/p>\n

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Newsom spokesperson Anthony Martinez slammed proposals for a tax holiday as a \u201cgimmick\u201d that would not help motorists and would instead strip funding for road repairs.<\/p>\n

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\u201cLet\u2019s be clear about the math: the federal gas tax is 18 cents a gallon. Trump\u2019s Iran War surcharge? According to GasBuddy, it\u2019s adding roughly $1.35 per gallon right now, costing American drivers $571 million today alone,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is a crisis of Trump and the Republican Party\u2019s making, and Governor Newsom isn\u2019t going to sacrifice California\u2019s roads, bridges, and clean air to help them distract the American people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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In a March news release, Newsom\u2019s office said it\u2019s a myth that suspending gas taxes would necessarily lower prices for consumers. Instead, oil companies could pocket the savings, it said.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s what to know:<\/p>\n

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What gas does the California gas tax pay for?<\/h2>\n

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The state gas tax chiefly provides funding to maintain roads and highways in California, the Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office said.<\/p>\n

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A portion of the money also goes to the state budget, state parks and agricultural programs. Federal gas taxes help pay to maintain highways and provide mass transit.<\/p>\n

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Is California running out of gas?<\/h2>\n

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Energy experts warn that supplies could become tighter \u2014 and prices could rise even more \u2014 if the war in Iran continues.<\/p>\n

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California has enough incoming fuel shipments to help stabilize prices for about six more weeks, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.<\/p>\n

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The New Corolla, an oil tanker that traveled through the Strait of Hormuz before heading to California, recently unloaded its cargo in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

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After that shipment, the state no longer has a guaranteed replacement for up to 200,000 barrels of oil per day previously sourced from the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n

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Officials said gas prices could potentially stabilize around $6.50 per gallon, or at least remain below $7, if alternative supply chains hold.<\/p>\n

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However, other experts warn prices could climb another $2 per gallon.<\/p>\n

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Why do gas prices rise in late winter and spring?<\/h2>\n

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According to AAA, gas prices usually begin climbing in late winter and early spring, because summer-blend fuel costs more to produce.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSummer gasoline has a lower Reid vapor pressure, which helps reduce evaporation in warmer temperatures,\u201d AAA said in the Feb. 17 news release.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCalifornia is the first state in the nation to make the transition, while East Coast states are the last,\u201d the automobile association said in a Tuesday, Feb. 17, news release.<\/p>\n

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Many states must switch by May 1, and most gas stations nationwide are required to sell summer-blend fuel by June 1.<\/p>\n

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The switch begins as early as February in some parts of California. The Golden State is required to use summer-blend fuel by April 1, according to AAA.<\/p>\n

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During this time, the organization said, some refineries also conduct maintenance, which can further tighten supply and add pressure to prices.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHigher crude oil prices have also put upward pressure on pump prices,\u201d the automobile association said.<\/p>\n

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