6/21/2023 Sacramento, CA – In a stunning move, the California state legislature held an emergency session on Wednesday to pass a new gas tax that would increase the average price of gasoline in the state by .045 per gallon. The reason for this unprecedented action? To reclaim the title of most expensive state for gas from Washington, which had briefly surpassed California earlier today.

According to GasBuddy, a website that tracks gas prices across the country, Washington had an average gas price of $4.843 per gallon on Wednesday morning, while California stood at $4.799 per gallon. This was the first time ever that Washington had higher gas prices than California, and it did not sit well with the Golden State lawmakers.

“We can’t let the state of Washington beat us,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in a statement. “California is known for many things: Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Disneyland, and of course, the most expensive gas in the nation. We have worked hard to achieve this status, and we are not going to give it up without a fight.”

The new gas tax, which went into effect immediately after Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law, raised the average gas price in California to $4.844 per gallon, edging out Washington by 0.001 cents. The tax is expected to generate an additional $50 million per year for the state’s transportation fund.

“I’m so proud in how quickly the California State Assembly reacted to the news this morning. It’s exactly why we have disaster plans documented, backed up, and readily accessible during emergencies,” Newsom said. “Accordingly, our team was able to put together a great gas tax package in no time for me to sign into law today.”

The reaction from Californians was mixed, to say the least. Some expressed outrage at the unnecessary tax hike, while others took it in stride.

“I think it’s ridiculous that they would raise our gas prices just to compete with another state, again,” said Maria Gonzalez, a nurse from Los Angeles who drives 40 miles to work every day. “Normally we have the ‘Hawaii’ tax gas increase, but now Washington? We didn’t see that one coming.”

“I don’t mind paying a little extra for gas,” said Kevin Lee, a software engineer from San Francisco who rides his bike to work. “It’s part of living in California. We have the best weather, the best food, the best culture. And now we have the best gas prices too.”

The reaction from Washingtonians was mostly amused and bemused.

“I think it’s hilarious that California is so insecure about their gas prices,” said Rachel Smith, a teacher from Seattle who takes public transit to work. “They have nothing on us. We have better coffee, better beer, better music, better scenery. And we don’t have earthquakes or wildfires.”

“I think it’s sad that California is wasting their money on gas taxes,” said David Jones, a farmer from Spokane who drives a pickup truck. “They should invest in renewable energy instead. We have plenty of hydroelectric power here in Washington. And we don’t have smog or traffic jams.”

Most Californians were proud to reclaim their title but also worried about their wallets. Some drivers even considered moving to other states with cheaper gas, such as Mississippi who currently owns the lowest average of $2.985 per gallon. However, they soon realized that they would have to deal with other problems, such as reduced crime, cheaper property, low tax rates, less gourmet food choices, and lower cost of living.

BY BS

The Journalist BS