Skip to main content

As Gas Prices Skyrocket, Harder Once Again Urges Sacramento to Stop Gas Tax Increases

November 18, 2021

Californians are currently paying an average of more than $4.60 per gallon, the highest prices in the nation

WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10), a staunch opponent of California's gas tax, once again urged Sacramento to suspend any future increases in the gas tax. According to AAA tracking data, Californians are paying an average of more than $4.60 per gallon, the single highest price in the nation. After this summer's gas tax increase, California drivers are now paying 51.1 cents per gallon in gas taxes, also the highest in the United States. One year ago, Modesto drivers were paying $3.00 per gallon. Today, Modesto drivers are paying $4.60 per gallon

"Gas prices are out of control, Sacramento has the power to help, and yet I've seen nothing from our leaders pushing to get it done. It's infuriating," said Rep. Harder. "I've been saying since day one we need to get rid of this gas tax entirely, but the first step is to get Sacramento to stop these tax hikes that are killing our families' budgets. Gas is above $4.00 in my community, the folks in Sacramento should count on hearing from me."

As a candidate for office back in 2019, Rep. Harder pushed for a repeal of California's gas tax, telling the Los Angeles Times, "I support Proposition 6, which repeals the gas tax." When his Democratic colleagues debated raising the federal gas tax this summer, Rep. Harder again came out strongly opposed to the measure, "Any member of Congress who wants to raise the gas tax is invited to join me in the Central Valley, wake up at 5 AM, and spend hours driving over the Altamont to get to work one morning," he said. "Instead of raising taxes on working families, we should be cracking down on the giant corporations who pay next to nothing in taxes year after year."

###