Republicans are making a mistake criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to give every car owner a $400 debit card to make up for the soaring cost of gas at the pump. It would be mailed out in July.
“July? Seriously?” charged Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City on March 23.
“Californians are struggling and Capitol Democrats are dragging their feet. How could it possibly take that long? Capitol Democrats are all talk and no action. Assembly Republicans have a plan to bring down gas prices by 50 cents a gallon immediately. We’ll be voting on it tomorrow. Democrats who think four months is too long to wait should support it.”
As Newsom is facing headwinds from the environmentalists in his party, who want to hamper carbon fuel-based vehicles as much as possible, a better strategy is to join with him. That also would give the GOP some publicity and show they’re team players.
According to Newsom’s statement, “The Governor’s proposal calls for $9 billion in tax refunds to Californians in the form of $400 direct payments per vehicle, capped at two vehicles.” Do the math: His $9 billion rebate to drivers is bigger than the GOP’s $2.5 billion.
I use about 12 gallons per week. The GOP plan would save me $6 a week. For 6 months, or 26 weeks, that would come to $156. Which is a lot less than Newsom’s $400.
For that, I can wait until July.
The limit of two debit cards per family, or $800, could spur a lot of families with three or more cars to shift ownership to other family members unless the legislation bars that. But these things always involve complications.
- $750 million for 3 million free rides on transit and rail agencies for three months;
- Up to $600 million to pause a part of the sales tax rate on diesel for one year;
- $523 million to pause the inflationary adjustment to gas and diesel excise tax rates. That’s an earlier Newsom proposal.
How often is a Democrat going to offer a $9 billion tax cut? Well, one just did, so take it.
Another Trump tactic is to push a deal even further. How about, “That $400 per car from Newsom is a great start for a tax rebate, but $1,000 would be better.”
Republicans might take some judo classes, learning how to flip the opponent.
And read “Master of the Senate,” Robert Caro’s biography of Lyndon Johnson’s tenure as the most powerful Senate majority leader ever. He was a disaster as president in the 1960s. But in the Senate in the 1950s, he knew how to turn a minority into a majority, and push through his legislation.
I admit I have selfish reasons for backing the Newsom proposal: I could use the $400 to help fill up my aging, creaking 2010 Camry.