Politics
Newsom promised to address California’s high gas costs. But the politics are tricky
Simply how Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to make good on his promise this week to place cash “again within the pockets” of Californians stung by the sharp rise in fuel costs stays murky, however suspending or decreasing the state’s highest-in-the-nation fuel tax seems much less and fewer possible.
The hesitation to tinker with California’s steep gasoline excise tax of 51 cents per gallon — even throughout an election 12 months by which voters are feeling the pinch on the pump as costs proceed to skyrocket amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — demonstrates simply how politically delicate the difficulty stays in a state recognized for its ribbons of freeways and worship of the auto.
Although Newsom in his January finances proposal referred to as for canceling a rise in California’s fuel tax scheduled for July, his administration can also be contemplating options that might present direct funds to residents.
The governor’s senior communications advisor, Anthony York, mentioned on Thursday that the administration is worried {that a} lower within the state fuel tax may not get handed alongside to drivers on the pump. The governor desires to make sure that any reduction goes to Californians and is “not pocketed by the oil firms,” York mentioned.
After Newsom vowed in his State of the State speech Tuesday to work with legislative leaders to supply California’s monetary reduction “to deal with rising fuel prices,” senior advisor Dee Dee Myers additionally instructed reporters the rebates have been prone to be despatched to Californians with automobiles and will value the state billions of {dollars}. Administration officers have since backtracked on that, saying it was certainly one of a number of choices being explored by the governor.
Meeting Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Senate President Professional Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) already signaled their opposition to decreasing the fuel tax, even briefly, saying it could not present substantial help and will scale back funding for vital street and bridge repairs statewide. They favor basic tax reduction to assist Californians fighting rising prices, not just for fuel however meals, hire and different life necessities.
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Republicans are utilizing the excessive fuel costs to their political benefit.
Meeting Republican Chief James Gallagher of Yuba Metropolis has joined with different GOP lawmakers in calling for suspending all state fuel taxes for six months, saying the state can afford to backfill funds for vital transportation tasks with a portion of a large state finances surplus that the Newsom administration estimates to be greater than $45 billion.
“You’re telling me we will’t give this reduction to shoppers. One of many greatest issues that they’re dealing with proper now’s the excessive value of dwelling, together with fuel, utility payments which are getting larger, rents, the price of housing,” Gallagher mentioned after listening to Newsom’s speech in Sacramento on Tuesday. “One thing’s incorrect. We’re not doing the issues that we have to do to make sure that folks’s prices are lowered.”
Gallagher mentioned it could present instantaneous reduction to Californians, significantly lower-income residents who usually tend to have lengthy commutes to work.
In 2017, the Democratic-controlled Legislature handed Senate Invoice 1, which then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed into legislation, levying the state’s first fuel tax enhance in 23 years to repair California’s roads and bridges in disrepair — 12 cents per gallon. Underneath the legislation, the tax will increase every year on July 1 primarily based on the expansion within the California Client Value Index.
Final July, the tax elevated from 50.5 cents per gallon to 51.1 cents per gallon. This upcoming July, it’s scheduled to extend to 53.9 cents per gallon, in line with the state Division of Finance. California’s complete state taxes and different fees on gasoline are the best within the nation, in line with the Tax Basis, a conservative-leaning assume tank primarily based in Washington.
The state expects SB 1 to generate greater than $5 billion yearly in the course of the first decade of its implementation. Based on the Legislative Analyst’s Workplace, the state’s gas taxes have been anticipated to boost $8.8 billion within the 2021-2022 fiscal 12 months.
Nonetheless, state officers say that may fall far wanting the quantity wanted to deal with shortcomings within the transportation system. The California Division of Transportation estimates it should want $122.9 billion over 10 years to keep up present roads and bridges, due partly to growing prices and the age of the infrastructure. The funding will handle about 45% of the full “recognized wants,” the company wrote in a 2021 report despatched to the California Transportation Fee.
A lot of the state fuel tax income helps state freeway upkeep, rehabilitation and enhancements, and practically one-third goes on to cities and counties.
The 2017 fuel tax enhance handed after a fierce debate within the Legislature, squeaking by in each the Meeting and Senate with the minimal votes required in each homes. Political turbulence adopted shut behind.
In 2018, Republicans launched a profitable recall effort in opposition to Orange County Democratic state Sen. Josh Newman, fueled by his vote in favor of the fuel tax. Newman reclaimed his seat in 2020.
That very same 12 months, California voters rejected a statewide poll measure, Proposition 6, to repeal the fuel tax enhance. The measure confronted a barrage of opposition from commerce unions, contractors, Democratic leaders and the California Chamber of Commerce, which mentioned it “makes our bridges and roads much less protected and jeopardizes public security.”
“For many years, the fuel tax was a poisonous political soccer,” mentioned state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). “We have to simply go away the fuel tax alone and concentrate on different types of tax rebates or different helps for working households. We have now the instruments to try this.”
California Transportation Fee member Michele Martinez, who served for 12 years on the Santa Ana Metropolis Council, mentioned the state’s fuel tax system is worthy of evaluation, particularly as the recognition of electrical automobiles grows. Electrical automotive homeowners don’t pay fuel taxes however nonetheless drive on the identical roads and bridges maintained by those that should pay the taxes, she mentioned.
“I perceive that decrease gas costs will assist many Californians who can’t afford to drive electrical automobiles on the freeway,” Martinez mentioned. “I paid $8.95 to cost my electrical automotive at 90%. How is that this honest? That is the difficulty with the present fuel tax system.”
Republican political marketing consultant Dave Gilliard, who labored with proponents of Proposition 6, mentioned occasions have modified. When the tax repeal failed, the worth of a gallon of fuel was two {dollars} cheaper than it’s right now, and polls present that the rising value of dwelling in California — pushed partly by fuel costs — has change into a serious concern amongst Californians. He argued that the fuel tax is regressive since all Californians pay the identical quantity on the pump, no matter revenue, which hits tougher amongst lower-income Californians.
“In case you lower the fuel tax, all people advantages. Individuals who commute, individuals who don’t commute,” Gilliard mentioned. “The simplest method to decrease the price of dwelling proper now, and there’s not an entire lot they’ll do, however one factor they’ll do in a single day is slash the fuel tax.”
Gilliard additionally mentioned that voters are usually not prone to help any plan by the governor and Democratic legislative management to supply tax rebates solely to sure Californians, and never all of these affected by the excessive fuel costs. He particularly pointed to the “Golden State Stimulus,” which despatched out $600 checks to Californians who earned as much as $75,000 a 12 months — costing a complete of $11.8 billion.
Newsom has referred to as it the “largest state tax rebate in American historical past.” However Gilliard argued that it wasn’t a rebate, since funds weren’t despatched to each Californian who paid state taxes.
“Lots of Republicans and lots of people are skeptical of the governor’s plan, that it’ll find yourself turning into some type of revenue redistribution plan and it’ll not go to all people,” Gilliard mentioned.
Occasions workers author Taryn Luna contributed to this report.
Politics
Appeals court rules Texas has right to build razor wire border wall to deter illegal immigration: 'Huge win'
A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that Texas has the right to build a razor wire border wall to deter illegal immigration into the Lone Star State.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the ruling on X, saying President Biden was “wrong to cut our razor wire.”
“We continue adding more razor wire border barrier,” the Republican leader wrote.
Wednesday’s 2-1 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears the way for Texas to pursue a lawsuit accusing the Biden administration of trespassing without having to remove the fencing.
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It also reversed a federal judge’s November 2023 refusal to grant a preliminary injunction to Texas as the state resisted federal efforts to remove fencing along the Rio Grande in the vicinity of Eagle Pass, Texas.
U.S. Border Patrol agents cut an opening through razor wire after immigrant families crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, Sept. 27, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Circuit Judge Kyle Duncan, a Trump appointee during the president-elect’s first term, wrote for Wednesday’s majority that Texas was trying only to safeguard its own property, not “regulate” U.S. Border Patrol, and was likely to succeed in its trespass claims.
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Duncan said the federal government waived its sovereign immunity and rejected its concerns that a ruling by Texas would impede the enforcement of immigration law and undermine the government’s relationship with Mexico.
A Venezuelan immigrant asks Texas National Guard troops to let his family pass through razor wire after they crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, Sept. 27, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
He said the public interest “supports clear protections for property rights from government intrusion and control” and ensuring that federal immigration law enforcement does not “unnecessarily intrude into the rights of countless property owners.”
Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling a “huge win for Texas.”
“The Biden Administration has been enjoined from damaging, destroying, or otherwise interfering with Texas’s border fencing,” Paxton wrote in a post on X. “We sued immediately when the federal government was observed destroying fences to let illegal aliens enter, and we’ve fought every step of the way for Texas sovereignty and security.”
Migrants attempt to cross the southern border in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, in February. (David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The White House has been locked in legal battles with Texas and other states that have tried to deter illegal immigration.
In May, the full 5th Circuit heard arguments in a separate case between Texas and the White House over whether the state can keep a 1,000-foot floating barrier on the Rio Grande.
The appeals court is also reviewing a judge’s order blocking a Texas law that would allow state officials to arrest, prosecute and order the removal of people in the country illegally.
Politics
Rep. Katie Porter obtains temporary restraining order against ex-boyfriend on harassment allegations
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) secured a temporary restraining order Tuesday against a former boyfriend, saying in dozens of pages of court filings that he had bombarded her, as well as her family and colleagues, with hundreds of messages that she described as “persistent abuse and harassment.”
Porter, 50, alleged in a filing with Orange County Superior Court that her ex-boyfriend Julian Willis, 55, was contacting her and her family with such frequency that she had a “significant fear” for her “personal safety and emotional well-being.”
Judge Stephen T. Hicklin signed a restraining order Tuesday barring Willis from communicating with Porter and her children until a mid-December court hearing. He also barred Willis from communicating about Porter with her current and former colleagues.
In the court filing, Porter said that Willis had been hospitalized twice since late 2022 on involuntary psychiatric holds and had a history of abusing prescription painkillers and other drugs.
She said in a statement to The Times that Willis’ mental health and struggles with addiction seemed to have gotten worse since she asked him in August to move out of her Irvine home. She said she sought the court order after his threats to her family and colleagues “escalated in both their frequency and intensity.”
“I sincerely hope he gets the help he needs,” Porter said.
Willis declined to comment. He will have an opportunity to file a legal response to the temporary restraining order and challenge Porter’s allegations.
Porter is leaving the House of Representatives in January after losing in California’s U.S. Senate primary in March. She has been discussed as a front-runner in the 2026 governor’s race in California after Gov. Gavin Newsom is termed out, but has not said whether she will launch a campaign.
The 53-page court filing, first reported by Politico, included 22 pages of emails, text messages and other communications among Porter, family members and colleagues who had received messages from Willis, as well as messages that Willis sent to Porter’s attorney and to her political mentor Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
The filing also included messages between herself and Willis’ siblings as they discussed trying to help him during his psychiatric holds and while he was staying in a sober-living facility.
Porter said that since she ordered Willis to move out, he had sent her more than 1,000 text messages and emails, including texting her 82 times in one 24-hour period in September, and 55 times on Nov. 12 before she blocked his number.
Porter said in the filing that her ex-boyfriend had “already contacted at least three reporters to disseminate false and damaging information” about her and her children, which she said “poses a serious risk to [her] career and personal reputation.”
The filing includes an email that Porter said Willis sent to her attorney late Monday, in which Willis said he had visited Porter’s son at college in Iowa and told him that he would “bring the hammer down on Katie and smash her and her life into a million pieces.”
Another screenshot shows Willis telling Porter’s attorney that he would file a complaint about Porter, who has children ages 12 and 16, with child protective services.
One of Porter’s congressional staff members received a text message from Willis saying he would “punish the f—” out of him if he did not agree to “cooperate” with a New York Times reporter and Willis’ attorneys, according to a screenshot included in the court document.
Willis previously made the news in 2021, when he was arrested after a fight that broke out at a Porter town hall at a park in Irvine.
Times staff writer Christopher Goffard contributed to this report.
Politics
Homan taking death threats against him ‘more seriously’ after Trump officials targeted with violent threats
Incoming Trump border czar Tom Homan reacted to news of death threats against Trump nominees on Wednesday and said he now takes the death threats he has previously received seriously.
“I have not taken this serious up to this point,” Homan told Fox News anchor Gillian Turner on “The Story” on Wednesday, referring to previous death threats made against him and his family.
“Now that I know what’s happened in the last 24 hours. I will take it a little more serious. But look, I’ve been dealing with this. When I was the ICE director in the first administration, I had numerous death threats. I had a security detail with me all the time. Even after I retired, death threats continued and even after I retired as the ICE Director. I had U.S. Marshals protection for a long time to protect me and my family.”
Homan explained that what “doesn’t help” the situation is the “negative press” around Trump.
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President Elect Donald Trump, left, and new appointed Tom Homan, right (Getty)
“I’m not in the cabinet, but, you know, I’ve read numerous hit pieces. I mean, you know, I’m a racist and, you know, I’m the father of family separation, all this other stuff. So the hate media doesn’t help at all because there are some nuts out there. They’ll take advantage. So that doesn’t help.”
Homan’s comments come shortly after Fox News Digital first reported that nearly a dozen of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees and other appointees tapped for the incoming administration were targeted Tuesday night with “violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” prompting a “swift” law enforcement response.
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives to speak at a campaign event at Nassau Coliseum, Wednesday, Sept.18, 2024, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The “attacks ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting,’” according to Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman and incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” she told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. “In response, law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.”
Sources told Fox News Digital that John Ratcliffe, the nominee to be CIA director, Pete Hegseth, the nominee for secretary of defense, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, the nominee for UN ambassador, were among those targeted. Brooke Rollins, who Trump has tapped to be secretary of agriculture, and Lee Zeldin, Trump’s nominee to be EPA administrator, separately revealed they were also targeted.
Threats were also made against Trump’s Labor Secretary nominee, GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and former Trump attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz’s family.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
Homan told Fox News that he is “not going to be intimidated by these people” and “I’m not going to let them silence me.”
“What I’ve learned today I’ll start taking a little more serious.”
Homan added that he believes “we need to have a strong response once we find out is behind all this.”
“It’s illegal to threaten someone’s life. And we need to follow through with that.”
The threats on Tuesday night came mere months after Trump survived two assassination attempts.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report
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