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George Runner of the California State Board of Equalization explains how he is trying to cap gas taxes once the price of gas goes over $4 per gallon.
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With that sticking with the theme of energy here the rising cost of gas is led one California official.
To propose a freeze on gas taxes when the price of the pump goes above four dollars a gallon.
Right where it is in California Californians currently pay more than four dollars and thirty cents on average.
So citizens could keep a little more change in their pockets if this plan is adopted but at what cost California.
Keep in mind has 89 point two billion dollar budget deficit.
-- -- tell us more about his idea is George -- from the California state board of equalization George thank you so much for joining us.
Thank -- could be within our great to have you so.
This is in California in terms of the gas tax a state tax apply to a federal tax and then another state tax.
On top of that and it's really an outrageous form of tax now.
It really is I mean there there -- lots opponent points that people should be outraged about.
-- one is you pay actually pay a sales tax -- attacks on top of the tax which is pretty outrageous.
And so this is about trying to cap the amount of tax that we put on when gas gets over four dollars a gallon.
Okay get some say critics of your proposal say just doesn't even go far enough that they -- an all out gas tax.
Holiday that should have nothing to do with the leveled a four dollar point.
At you know where the plan would be implemented but it's just you know it -- -- just get a break all together.
And I I certainly would be supportive of that Californians are way overtaxed.
You know at this point -- what we're trying to come up -- there is a reasonable path.
That doesn't undermine the budget assumptions that we have out here in city California but also doesn't have government basically -- get a job.
You know -- a lottery win if you will with these high gas prices.
Yeah California has the second highest.
State gas tax in the country only New -- is higher thanks a lot.
67 point four cents as opposed to California at 67 cents.
I -- California's tax happy when they just trying replaced the sharp fall somewhere else and get it from you some other way.
Well of course are always trying to figure out how to get more money out of taxpayers' pockets out here in California.
But the point would be why should Californians who -- already right now paying the second highest.
Gas -- -- -- gas rates in the nation only behind a YE.
I have to then be the ones that this is put the -- -- -- there's put on their backs and so we think it's a very reasonable the issue it's a few pennies a gallon but at this point.
Why go back to people who are already overtaxed.
-- -- what kind of reception are you getting any support.
Well certainly people are very open to it those who -- -- one who kind of control the tax in the cost of gasoline have been very supportive.
Those who basically want more money for government are the ones that are being the critics.
And you know there are a lot of in California there are a lot of aren't there a lot of other government officials like -- California seems like this is a top south.
Well it is it is a tough sell but the same time I hear politicians up and down the state saying -- There there are concerned about the rate of the amount of but cost of gasoline.
Here's a very simple thing that they have control over so let's go like.
You know put up or shut up here's a -- -- what you have control over in order to save taxpayers in dollars at my appetite at the pump.
George runner thanks for your time the idea is interesting and it should hopefully resonate around the country with what's going on with gas than -- to bring about -- we'd like that a lot.
