Angry Californians warn Dems to stay out of ‘our pockets’ over tax that would charge drivers by the mile
Frustrated Los Angeles residents are asking greedy California politicians to stop squeezing their wallets as a proposed tax could end up costing drivers more than $1,000 a year.
With Californians already paying sky-high gas prices, locals who put miles in their cars every day are concerned — but not surprised — by the recent fundraising from Democratic lawmakers to replace lost money as the state faces a nearly $3 billion budget deficit.
“Get your hands out of my pocket,” Mike, the bartender, fumed to The Post on Wednesday.
“It should be against the constitution. I don’t pay for the land, I pay for myself. No one wants you in our pockets.”
Last week, the provincial Assembly overwhelmingly passed a controversial “road spending” bill despite criticism from critics wary of another fiscal clash in the local budget.
The proposed mileage tax backed by the Democrat would replace the gas tax with a mileage fee, which could cost Golden State drivers $228 to $1,026 a year. The charge can run from two to nine cents per mile, based on an average of 11,400 miles driven each year.
“It’s not fair, we shouldn’t pay more,” said Christian Cadenas, a construction worker who logs more than 100 kilometers a day in his truck across Los Angeles.
“This makes me angry.” This is not a luxury for me, I have a family to take care of,” he added, noting that he usually looks for gas stations that offer $4 or less per liter when he fills up his tank.
I drive everywhere. I can’t pump $5 or $6 gas.”
Californians already pay the second highest gas prices in the nation behind only Hawaii. In January, the price was $4.23 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.
Sophia, a waitress who travels endless miles driving all over Southern California to work and take care of her family, isn’t surprised that officials are making moves that could already raise prices.
“I just thought they were going to do it,” the Orange County resident said.
“Everybody is struggling so much in this economy right now. They don’t care.”
The landmark legislation — called Assembly Bill 1421 — does not impose a toll but would first fund research into rates and collection methods by the California Transportation Commission and the state Transportation Agency.
The proposed tax comes amid a dramatic fiscal deficit, with state lawmakers seeking to make up for lost revenue as more drivers switch to electric and hybrid vehicles.
But locals may suffer yet again in their wallets as the sudden closure of the Valero refinery in Benicia could send gas prices skyrocketing even higher.
“We are in an unprecedented oil crisis,” oil expert Mike Ariza told the California Globe on Tuesday.
Refiners are fleeing the Golden State as regulations drive operating costs 26-37% above the national average.
Valero’s 145,000-barrel-per-day refinery began winding down Saturday, four months ahead of schedule. Chevron moved operations from the Bay Area to Texas, and Phillips 66 closed a Los Angeles refinery in October.
