Latest news with #Californians
Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
California Democrats Push Reforms to Prevent Refinery Shutdowns
A group of California Democrats is looking to ease the state's gasoline standards and streamline permitting for refineries in a bid to prevent more fuelmakers from shutting down and raising costs for the state's drivers. A bill introduced by seven of the state's Democratic senators would require the energy commission to transition by 2027 to a less-stringent gasoline specification that's in line with other western states, replacing California's unique Carbob fuel. Nearer term, the measure would suspend rules requiring more environmentally friendly, but more expensive, fuel to be sold in the warmer months. The bill marks a reversal from years of regulatory scrutiny by Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Energy Commission that contributed to plans by Phillips 66 and Valero Energy Corp. to shut refineries that account for about one-fifth of the state's crude-processing capacity. The shutdowns prompted Newsom to adjust course in April and urge the state's energy regulator to collaborate with fuel makers to ensure affordable and reliable supply. 'Details of the policy are up for negotiation, but I will be fighting to ensure that we get needed change for Californians who are fed up with our fuel economy,' Senator Tim Grayson, one of the seven democrats who introduced the bill, said in an emailed statement. The limited number of refineries that can make California's artisan gasoline grade is one reason why the state's drivers pay more at the pump than the rest of the country. Among those were Phillips 66's Los Angeles refinery, which the company said in October that it would shut later this year, and Valero's San Francisco Bay Area plant, which the company said in April it is looking to close within a year. Bill SB 237 was introduced in January, passed the California Senate in May and is working its way through the state's assembly with a mid-September deadline of the current legislative session. If approved, it would pass to Newsom's desk to be signed into law. The bill would also establish a 'one-stop shop' for air, water and hazardous waste permitting for the state's refiners, who have long argued that a glacial permitting process and heavy regulation have raised costs and dissuaded companies from operating in the state. The bill's streamlined permitting process would be available to refiners only if they commit in a 'binding and enforceable agreement to continue to operate and to provide transportation fuels at an affordable price to consumers for the duration of the permits' issued through the process. To be sure, California's fuel makers are still making solid profits. The latest data from the California Energy Commission shows refiners made $1 a gallon gross margin in April, down from 2024 but well above the US average. Risser writes for Bloomberg.
Mint
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Mint
California Democrats Push Reforms to Prevent Refinery Shutdowns
(Bloomberg) -- A group of California Democrats is looking to ease the state's gasoline standards and streamline permitting for refineries in a bid to prevent more fuelmakers from shutting down and raising costs for the state's drivers. A bill introduced by seven of the state's Democratic senators would require the energy commission to transition by 2027 to a less-stringent gasoline specification that's in line with other western states, replacing California's unique Carbob fuel. Nearer term, the measure would suspend rules requiring more environmentally friendly, but more expensive, fuel to be sold in the warmer months. The bill marks a reversal from years of regulatory scrutiny by Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Energy Commission that contributed to plans by Phillips 66 and Valero Energy Corp. to shut refineries that account for about one-fifth of the state's crude-processing capacity. The shutdowns prompted Newsom to adjust course in April and urge the state's energy regulator to collaborate with fuel makers to ensure affordable and reliable supply. 'Details of the policy are up for negotiation, but I will be fighting to ensure that we get needed change for Californians who are fed up with our fuel economy,' Senator Tim Grayson, one of the seven democrats who introduced the bill, said in an emailed statement. The limited number of refineries that can make California's artisan gasoline grade is one reason why the state's drivers pay more at the pump than the rest of the country. Among those were Phillips 66's Los Angeles refinery, which the company said in October that it would shut later this year, and Valero's San Francisco Bay Area plant, which the company said in April it is looking to close within a year. Bill SB 237 was introduced in January, passed the California Senate in May and is working its way through the state's assembly with a mid-September deadline of the current legislative session. If approved, it would pass to Newsom's desk to be signed into law. The bill would also establish a 'one-stop shop' for air, water and hazardous waste permitting for the state's refiners, who have long argued that a glacial permitting process and heavy regulation have raised costs and dissuaded companies from operating in the state. The bill's streamlined permitting process would be available to refiners only if they commit in a 'binding and enforceable agreement to continue to operate and to provide transportation fuels at an affordable price to consumers for the duration of the permits' issued through the process. To be sure, California's fuel makers are still making solid profits. The latest data from the California Energy Commission shows refiners made $1 a gallon gross margin in April, down from 2024 but well above the US average. More stories like this are available on
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
California Proposes Major Insurance Reform
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is pursuing sweeping reforms for California's FAIR plan to stabilize the state's insurer of last resort. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the California Department of Insurance said FAIR Plans' expansion in the last 10 years has revealed "flaws in a system that was never designed to bear the weight it now carries." Under Proposition 103, insurance companies have been allowed to bypass high-risk areas including those prone to wildfires, leaving many homeowners and businesses in the state resorting to the FAIR Plan for coverage. "The FAIR Plan needs to be a temporary option, not the only option," Lara said in the press release. "My top priority is for people to have more choices in a competitive market. And for those unable to find coverage right now, the FAIR Plan needs to provide the services and benefit payouts they deserve, quickly and fully." Why It Matters The reforms come amidst a crisis in California's insurance market, where increasing wildfire risk has led many providers to limit or abandon coverage. The number of policies held on the FAIR Plan, which offers insurance to those who cannot find coverage on the market, has boomed in recent years. As of March 2025, the FAIR Plan's total policies in force is 573,739—a 23 percent increase since September 2024, and a 139 percent increase since September 2021. What To Know Through Lara's Sustainable Insurance Strategy, he is aiming to restore the FAIR Plan to a "temporary solution, not a permanent one," and to give Californians "more options and stronger protections." His reforms include: Expanded coverage : Starting July 26, 2025, the FAIR Plan will temporarily offer high-value commercial coverage—up to $20 million per building and $100 million per location—through 2028, including coverage for HOAs and affordable housing. : Starting July 26, 2025, the FAIR Plan will temporarily offer high-value commercial coverage—up to $20 million per building and $100 million per location—through 2028, including coverage for HOAs and affordable housing. Increased transparency : As of July 1, 2025, the FAIR Plan must publicly report exposures, policy counts, and financial data to inform policymakers and the public. : As of July 1, 2025, the FAIR Plan must publicly report exposures, policy counts, and financial data to inform policymakers and the public. Market stabilization : In response to insurer withdrawals, Lara moved to stabilize the market and on June 23, 2025, urged dismissal of a lawsuit by Consumer Watchdog that he says undermines reform efforts. : In response to insurer withdrawals, Lara moved to stabilize the market and on June 23, 2025, urged dismissal of a lawsuit by Consumer Watchdog that he says undermines reform efforts. Wildfire claims oversight : The Department of Insurance is investigating FAIR Plan responses to smoke damage claims from the Los Angeles wildfires and has directed improvements in staffing and claims handling. : The Department of Insurance is investigating FAIR Plan responses to smoke damage claims from the Los Angeles wildfires and has directed improvements in staffing and claims handling. Operational review : A financial examination report on FAIR Plan operations, based on 2022 recommendations, is expected soon to assess progress on governance and service reforms. : A financial examination report on FAIR Plan operations, based on 2022 recommendations, is expected soon to assess progress on governance and service reforms. New financial tools: Lara has co-sponsored Assembly Bill 226, allowing the FAIR Plan to seek bonds, loans, and credit lines—pending Insurance Commissioner approval—to expand fire insurance access. An aerial view of a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire on May 7 in Pacific Palisades, California. An aerial view of a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire on May 7 in Pacific Palisades, California. Justin Sullivan/GETTY What People Are Saying Commissioner Lara said in Wednesday's press release: "Decades of neglect have created a crisis of availability. We want homeowners and business owners to have choices – not just a last resort. We cannot accept the growth of the FAIR Plan as inevitable. My continued reforms create the first-ever requirement for insurance companies to write policies in wildfire-distressed areas if they want to use forward-looking models or the cost of reinsurance in their rates. This is about reforming the limits of Proposition 103 and delivering on the promise of insurance access for every Californian." What Happens Next? Researchers at the comparison website Insurify have estimated that homeowner insurance premiums on the market will continue to rise this year, by as much as 21 percent throughout 2025, with an estimated average annual premium of $2,930, compared to $2,424 paid by California homeowners in 2024.
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Nearly 200 House Dems reject resolution condemning violent anti-ICE riots in LA
Nearly 200 House Democrats voted against a resolution condemning the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles earlier this month. 215 voted in favor, with all Republicans that voted backing the resolution. The resolution was led by Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., and the rest of the Golden State's Republican congressional delegation. "Peaceful protests are a constitutional right, but vandalism, looting, violence, and other crimes are not. Protecting public safety shouldn't be controversial, which is why I am leading the California Republican delegation in a resolution to support law and order as we continue to see unrest," Kim stated when introducing the resolution. "I hope Governor Newsom can come together with President Trump to stop the riots, lower the temperature, and keep our communities safe," she added. "Let's be clear: the riots escalated before the National Guard was sent in and were enabled by California's soft-on-crime policies – peddled for years by Governor Newsom, Sacramento, and local prosecutors – that have allowed for lawlessness and endangered public safety of hardworking Californians," Kim continued. It was introduced on June 17, and it acknowledges that peaceful protests should be welcomed in the United States, but calls out the criminal elements that unfolded in the area earlier this month. "These protests quickly escalated into violent riots across Los Angeles, where acts of arson, widespread looting, property destruction, and vandalism were committed, blocking streets and highways, lighting streets on fire, throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, and assaulting Federal and local peace officers," the resolution states. Earlier this month, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that the protest was an excuse for bad actors to commit crimes, such as stealing from businesses, committing property damage and assaulting law enforcement. "This group wanted to commit crimes," Hochman said at the time. "They looked at the protest as a cover, an opportunity to go ahead and ply their illegal trade and commit a whole variety of crimes that, in many ways, has done a huge disservice to the legitimate protesters out there." Some Democrats criticized the resolution, as a legal battle ensured whether President Donald Trump was able to send in the National Guard as the civil unrest went on. Many Republicans have argued it was necessary, while many California Democratic Leaders like Gov. Gavin Newsom said troop deployment was an instigator. "This resolution ignores those facts to score political points," Rep. Nanette Díaz Barragán, D-Calif., said on the House floor in opposition to the resolution, saying troop deployment "only escalated tensions and further unrest" while adding that Democrats have called for prosecutions of those who have acted violently. "Your daily reminder that Trump still has 4,946 troops sitting around LA doing nothing. Meanwhile, he has weakened our border safety operations -- slashing the National Guard's fentanyl and drug interdiction force by 32 PERCENT. He is actively endangering our communities by keeping these troops in LA," Newsom posted to X on June 25. Meanwhile, debate ensues about the ICE operations and deportation efforts nationwide, as ICE agents face a 500% increase in assaults, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
California, the world's fourth largest economy, to charge road tax as people go electric, citizens furious
California, the fourth largest economy in the world, is planning to introduce a new road charge that would charge drivers per mile driven, a plan that has drawn criticism from California residents and politicians throughout the state, as per a report. California Eyes Per-Mile Road Tax The new proposal comes as California is expected to have a $5 billion shortfall in gas tax revenue over the next decade, according to a CBS8 News report. This is because electric and hybrid cars are quickly taking over from gasoline-powered vehicles, as per the report. The state's main source of revenue to fund about 80% of the roadwork, like highway maintenance, is funded via a 59-cent per gallon gas tax, which is the highest in the country, and is slipping away, as per the CBS8 News report. ALSO READ: FDA issues new heart risk warnings for Pfizer, Moderna COVID vaccines - should you be worried? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unwind in elegant bedrooms with private decks at Sunteck City Sunteck City Learn More Undo What Is the State Testing? With the aim of addressing the funding gap, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has recently tried a pilot program to understand this potential new fee system, which could replace the current gas tax, as reported by CBS8 News. During the trial program, many approaches were tested, like a flat fee of 2.8 cents per mile and an individualised fee based on a vehicle's fuel economy, as reported by CBS8 News. Even different methods of reporting mileage to the state were also considered, such as odometer readings and special plug-in devices to measure miles travelled, according to the report. Live Events ALSO READ: Meet Trapit Bansal, Meta's new AI superintelligence team hire - Is Meta poaching top talent from OpenAI? Why the Road Charge Now? Chair of UCLA's Department of Urban Planning, Michael Manville, explained that, "The purchasing power of the fuel tax, which is the main way we finance transportation infrastructure has been steadily declining," as quoted in the report. Manville also pointed out that, "We have a lot more electric cars, we have a lot more hybrid cars, and just the typical new car gets better gas mileage," quoted CBS8 News. Californians Push Back However, the latest proposal faced disapproval from many Californians, like a San Diegan, Gail Hofilena expressed her opposition, by saying, "Not for it. I'm a hard 'no' on everything. I got to save my money where I can," as quoted in the report. While, assembly member Carl DeMaio, who previously had led the opposition to a local mileage fee, criticised the state-wide proposal, saying, "A mileage tax in California is a money grab, let's just be very clear," as quoted by the CBS8 News report. ALSO READ: After Canada, now US: College graduates face the toughest job market in decades – what's gone wrong? DeMaio estimated that the average Californian might have to pay $900 to $1200 per year under this new system and argued that it would disproportionately affect working and lower-income families with longer commutes, as reported by the CBS8 News report. He explained that, "A lot of working families, poorer, families, have a longer commute, so they will actually pay a higher mileage tax," adding, "It's very regressive. It's unfair," as quoted in the report. DeMaio also voiced out his scepticism regarding the state's claim that the road charge would replace the existing gas tax, as he said, "That's nonsense," adding, "These people would never give up a tax. They're just going to add an additional one," as quoted in the report. What's Next? However, it will be decided by the State Legislature whether the road charge would replace the fuel tax, reported CBS8 News. According to the report, Caltrans is expected to release the results of its recent pilot program later this year, which will likely inform the ongoing debate over this controversial proposal. FAQs How much tax could I be charged under this plan? Estimates suggest anywhere from $900 to $1,200 per year, depending on how much a person drives, as reported by CBS8 News. Why is California proposing a road charge now? Because the gas tax is no longer bringing in enough money, mainly due to more electric and fuel-efficient cars on the road, as per the CBS8 News report.
