Governor Gavin Newsom’s bill to address gas price spikes by requiring oil refineries to maintain a minimum supply of fuel is set to move closer to becoming law. Despite criticism from some moderate Democrats and Republicans who fear it could increase pump prices, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire has assured that the bill will pass in the Senate. The bill has also been amended to include a labor representative in the energy commission’s watchdog group. Meanwhile, the California Air Resources Board is expected to vote on updates to low-carbon fuel standards that could further increase gas prices.
In other news, California’s K-12 students showed slight improvements in test scores, highlighting gains made by Black, Latino, and low-income students. However, scores are still below pre-pandemic levels. Amid ongoing labor disputes, Kaiser Permanente mental health workers are preparing to strike, and University of California workers are set to vote on a potential strike. These actions come after a year of heightened union activism in the state’s healthcare and education sectors.
Overall, California faces challenges in addressing rising gas prices, improving education outcomes, and addressing labor disputes, all of which have significant implications for the state’s economy and residents.
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Photo credit calmatters.org
