Not. So. Fast. It only took 3 days and, as critics like Reform California’s Carl DeMaio predicted, California Democratic politicians are now breaking their promise to return $400 to each California taxpayer in the form of what they called a “gas tax rebate.”
It was just last week when smiling Democrats in the California State Legislature called a big press conference to unveil their plan to provide $400 “gas rebate” checks to every taxpayer.
But over the weekend, they walked back the proposal to just $200 — and only if you qualify. The initial qualification is if you are a household that made under $250,000 last year - although critics say both the $200 and the qualification threshold will all likely be changed again so California Democrats can keep as much of your money as possible.
DeMaio calls the move a classic “bait and switch” that will leave California drivers feeling pain at the pump.
“They dangled $400 in front of us in what is now revealed to be a phony proposal, got their three days of favorable media coverage from the liberal media, and now are changing the offer to minimize the relief to Californians who are hurting because of high gas prices - it is outrageous,” DeMaio says.
DeMaio also pointed out that adding qualifications or a means test to the rebates opens a pandora’s box that could further reduce benefits to Californians. A rebate could also take 8-12 weeks to process, and that’s if Democrats can agree on the rebate amount and qualifications.
“The easiest and most effective solution to provide immediate relief to families is to suspend the gas taxes,” explains DeMaio.
While DeMaio won’t reject the $200 rebates if and when they ever materialize, he says he will instead continue his Reform California campaign to suspend the state gas taxes could save Californians $215 — per month. Far more than the proposed $200 or $400 one-time rebate payments that DeMaio says will likely never get sent out to most taxpayers.
Specifically DeMaio is calling for legislators to declare a “Gas Tax Holiday” that would save each driver roughly $1.26 per gallon. You can join the campaign and sign the petition at www.GasTaxPetition.org
The DeMaio proposal reveals the true cost of all the state’s gas taxes:
- Suspend the Gas Excise Tax: 51.1 cents per gallon
- Suspend the Gas Cap & Trade Tax: 40-50 cents per gallon
- Suspend the Sales Tax on Gas: 20-25 cents per gallon
Total Immediate Savings to Californians: $1.11-1.26 per gallon
“We need to keep up the pressure on these liberal politicians to suspend the gas tax, and if they won’t then we’ll turn it into a key campaign issue for the election,” said DeMaio. “We will run ads with toss-up voters and win on the issues,” he concluded.
That’s why Carl DeMaio is asking for the public to join the campaign today. Your support will help run ads to toss-up and undecided voters across the state urging them to join the call for the “Gas Tax Holiday.”