Is California Waking Up From Its Newsom Nightmare?

Earlier this month, Gavin Newsom, acting like a spoiled four-year-old, threatened to take his ball and go home if the legislature failed to pass his proposal to regulate California’s oil and gas. Newsom, taking a page out of Kamala Harris’s imaginary “price gouging” fantasy, wants to force refineries to "maintain a minimum” fuel reserve to avoid supply shortages.

Here's the rub. As usual, in their parallel universe, Newsom and his ilk ignore reality and cling to the fantasies that fit their agenda. Despite everyone telling him otherwise, Newsom claims that his plan will lower prices. Meeting with resistance, Newsom threatened to convene a special session to force his plan through.

How bad is Newsom’s “Plan”? Here is what Western States Petroleum Association CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd had to say about it:

“There are bad regulations, and then there are regulations so detrimental that industry experts, the California Energy Commission, and anyone with a basic understanding of economics can clearly see the harm they will cause consumers. Governor Newsom’s refinery supply mandate will create artificial shortages of fuel in California, Arizona and Nevada by forcing refiners to withhold fuels from the market. Lawmakers who vote for this mandate will be voting to increase gas costs for their constituents.”

“This literal last-minute mandate is the latest in a series of actions by this administration to limit fuel supplies to consumers. California already faces a de facto production ban, forcing more than 75 percent of the crude our state uses to be shipped in from overseas. Additionally, upcoming ‘at berth’ regulations, set to take effect in just a few months, may exacerbate this problem by restricting shipping and causing significant declines in the supply of crude oil and other transportation fuel products needed to meet the state’s energy demands. WSPA WSPA has repeatedly warned the administration and lawmakers about the cumulative effects of these supply-limiting policies, but to no avail. WSPA has repeatedly warned the administration and lawmakers about the cumulative effects of these supply-limiting policies, but to no avail."

“It’s noteworthy that legislators are considering such radical energy policies at a time when the nation is closely examining how the ‘California model’ will impact their families and pocketbooks.”

On Saturday, Newsom attempted to hold a special session but faced opposition from both parties. Democratic leaders were unhappy with Newsom's actions because they were already working on various projects related to the issue and needed time to analyze the potential impacts of his proposal.

This should not have been a surprise to Newsom. Republicans were very blunt in their criticisms. On Wednesday, Asm. Bill Essayli (R) posted his sentiments on X:

“Pretty sure this is what we call extortion. How about no on both demands? Go pound sand.”

Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher was more expansive in his thoughts. He posted:

“Where does this guy get off? Pass my bill quickly with no transparency, or I’ll call a special session. Cool. I’m ready to call his bluff. Call it.” @GavinNewso

“My first bill in special session will be to remove fuels from Cap & Trade and lower gas prices by .50 cents right off the bat.

"My second will be CEQA streamlining of pipelines and refinery storage so we can cease being an energy island.

"And my third will be to repeal his stupid price-gouging law that has done literally nothing to lower gas prices.”

It’s encouraging that some people on both sides of the aisle have figuratively given Newsom a single-digit salute. He has played a massive role in the destruction of the state. This is a perfect example of the radical leftist thought process. Even though industry experts warned Newsom that his plan would only accomplish raising consumer gas prices, he pressed on. When people on both sides of the aisle in his own state legislative body, warned him, he pressed on. The question that voters in California have to ask themselves is why?

Newsom has been a nightmare for California, and although it’s encouraging that at least some people are stirring from their self-imposed sleep until they stop voting for far-left bureaucrats like Newsom, they will never get out from under their horror.