GOP leader Wilk hurt + Republicans blast Dems over gas tax + Hundreds expected at rally
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
WILK OUT OF COMMISSION?
If you haven’t seen Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, in a while, there’s a reason for that. He has been out of the office recovering from a neck injury.
“Senator Wilk slipped in his apartment and hurt his neck. He was hoping it would heal up on its own by wearing a collar, but it wasn’t improving, so he had surgery yesterday and it went well. Senator Wilk has been working today from his hospital room and expects to be discharged tomorrow. He will be back in the office as soon as he can,” according to an email statement from Jacqui Nguyen, Wilk’s press secretary sent Tuesday.
Nguyen said in an interview that the accident occurred before lawmakers went on spring break. Asked whether the injury would affect his ability to serve in a leadership capacity, Nguyen said Wilk will return to his position as soon as possible.
LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICANS ACCUSE DEMOCRATS OF DITHERING ON THE GAS TAX SUSPENSION
California Republicans are calling foul after a news story by Politico’s Lara Korte revealed that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has conceded that the Democratic supermajority-controlled Legislature is unlikely to prevent a scheduled increase in the state’ gas tax from going into effect in July.
“It is clear now that the Legislature will not act in time to provide that immediate, limited relief,” Newsom spokesperson Alex Stack said in a statement, according to Politico. “But we look forward to working with lawmakers on the Governor’s proposal for direct payments to Californians wrestling with rising prices.”
For weeks now, legislative Republicans have lambasted their Democratic counterparts for dithering on providing relief at the gas pump. A bill by Assemblyman Kevin Kiley to suspend the gas tax, AB 1638, was amended to become a corporate windfall tax for gas refineries to the uproar of many.
“After rejecting my bill to suspend the 50 cent per gallon gas tax on four occasions, the Supermajority is now increasing the tax burden on hardworking California families by failing to take action to provide relief. Even Governor Newsom opposes this,” Kiley said in a statement Tuesday. “When fuel prices rise again in July, drivers can thank the out of touch politicians in Sacramento who put politics over bipartisan solutions to help all Californians.”
Both Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, and Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk, also released statements Tuesday criticizing Newsom and his Democratic allies in the Legislature for not doing more on gas prices.
“Legislative Democrats just ran out the clock on suspending the gas tax. Actions speak louder than words, and they did nothing. Republicans have been calling for a one-year suspension of the 51.1-cent tax per gallon tax for over a year — a simple solution that would have provided immediate financial relief for California’s drivers. Sadly, it is business as usual in Sacramento, and consumers are again at the short end of the stick,” Wilk said.
“This is pathetic – Democrats have pretty much given up on providing relief to struggling Californians,” said Gallagher. “Regular people are having to make hard choices about what part of their household budgets to cut. By allowing yet another gas tax increase, Democratic politicians are making those choices even harder.”
The Republican National Committee also jumped into the fray, with spokeswoman Hallie Balch writing, “California Democrats are so bad at helping Californians. Democrat Josh Harder has been regaling the public with his gas tank woes, but where is he now with his calls to halt the gas tax? Democrats continue to prove that they have no solutions as they refuse to help the millions of commuters dealing with increasing pain at the pump.”
HUNDREDS EXPECTED TO RALLY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION EQUITY FUNDING
Hundreds of educators, students and faith leaders are expected to show up at the Capitol on Wednesday in support of a bill, AB 2774, by Assemblywoman Akilah Weber, D-San Diego, intended to provide $400 million per year in additional equity funding for the lowest performing subgroup not currently generating state or federal funds.
An estimated 500 people are expected to show up for the rally, beginning at noon Wednesday on the west steps of the Capitol.
“This legislation will address the equity issues surrounding the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) that was designed to provide additional funding for the highest need students. However, over one quarter of Black students are not receiving the supplemental funding through LCFF. AB 2774 will remedy this problem and ensure that Black students have equitable resources in school to succeed,” according to a statement announcing the rally.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Today marks the 5th time my legislation to fix Prop 47 and hold serial thieves accountable has been killed. As @ASM_Irwin said a few weeks ago, I guess we really are dependent on Batman to bring accountability and justice. Perhaps maybe we should call the Avengers too.”
- Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, via Twitter.
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