Rep. Vince Fong Condemns Governor Gavin Newsom’s Refinery Supply Mandate

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20) sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom criticizing his unworkable refinery supply mandate that will intentionally raise gas prices and create artificial gasoline shortages. The letter states the effects this mandate will have on California and surrounding states – like Arizona and Nevada. Also signed on to the letter include the following members of Congress: Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-05), Rep. John Duarte (CA-13), Rep. David Valadao (CA-22), Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Rep. Mike Garcia (CA-27), Rep. Young Kim (CA-40), Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-41), Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45), Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48), Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Rep. Pete Stauber (MN-08).

“Governor Newsom continues to show his lack of understanding in the area of energy production,” said Rep. Fong. “This unworkable mandate will not only affect Californians, but also our neighboring states like Arizona and Nevada who rely on our gasoline supply. Newsom is intentionally increasing gas prices when Californians are already struggling to afford to live and work in the state. For Californians and the rest of the country, Governor Newsom must stop this irresponsible refinery mandate.”

“Governor Newsom’s misguided refinery supply mandate would once again raise gas prices for Central Valley families,” said Rep. Valadao. “From consistently raising the gas tax to restricting permits, this administration has demonstrated time and again that they care more about appeasing the environmental lobby than helping middle-class Californians struggling with rising energy prices. I will continue urging the Governor to abandon his regulatory assault on oil and gas production in California.” 

Read the full letter here or see the highlights below. 

Your recent proposal to force refineries to withhold supply from the market shows that you and your Administration are more interested in political gimmicks than solving real-world issues. Your proposal will negatively impact the ability of Californians to drive their children to school, purchase groceries, and get to work. By forcing refineries to withhold gasoline from the market, your refinery proposal will require California, Arizona, and Nevada residents to pay more at the pump. Your own Energy Commission states that this proposal threatens to shutter small, local refineries and limit the state’s gasoline supply.

Forcing refineries to withhold gasoline from the market and possibly pushing remaining refineries to shut down production threatens our gasoline supply and our way of life. This punitive mandate will have untold consequences on California’s energy availability and is yet another attempt at a thinly veiled gas tax.

You have a responsibility to enact proposals that rely on facts and data to address cost of living issues. We are concerned with the course that has been set by this irresponsible policy decision, which will further pinch the pocketbooks of families across California, Nevada, and Arizona.