California Rep. Bass sounds alarm on state’s high gas prices
“The median price is $4. And in many places, it’s $5. I know that the oil industry said that one of the reasons for the increase in price was because they had to slow down production because they had to do some maintenance,” Rep. Karen Bass told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” “We have got to reduce the price of gas in California.”
“But I’m kind of more concerned about the oil producers being able to get back online,” she added. “So hopefully we’ll see some reduction and the administration won’t have to intervene.”
Gas prices have been increasing steadily throughout the year as fuel demand grows around the globe and suppliers have been unable — or unwilling — to produce more oil. Although US oil prices have surged by more than 65% this year, US oil production is about 14% below the levels seen at the end of 2019, before the Coronavirus erupted around the country.
“We are very committed to do everything we can to make sure that American consumers don’t bear the brunt of high gas prices and volatile energy prices and the President has made clear that all options are on the table,” he said.
Tapping into the supply of the SPR, which is designed to protect the nation against a major disruption in oil supplies, would likely only provide modest, temporary relief from higher prices at the pump.
