The association is a part of the grassroots Fed Up at the Pump campaign, which aims to stop the coming state-mandated gas fee – created by the regulations put forth by the California Air Resources Board. CARB’s own economic analysis show that the mandated gas fee will lead to a substantial increase in gas prices ranging from 16 cents to 76 cents a gallon starting January 1, 2015.
Just yesterday at an event put on by Fed Up At The Pump, the Association’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Aimee Brooks spoke to the crowd about the impending impacts higher fuel prices will have for the agriculture industry and others. Brooks quoted current diesel fuel costs in California which sit 8.7% higher than competing agriculture regions in the US and explained to onlookers how fuel prices have a much broader impact that just rising food and freight prices, saying:
“Workers can’t make ends meet when their own fuel costs to get to work and home increase significantly, pair that with the current drought, and it’s a recipe for huge unemployment in disadvantaged communities. What about the thousands of entities that provide goods and services to the industry? Who will get cut out when budgets tighten?”
Legislation to delay fuels under the cap, AB 69 (Perea) is currently held up in the Senate Rules Committee.
Want to take action? YOU CAN HELP! Join Fed up at the Pump and tell Governor Brown and the California Air Resources Board to “BACK OFF!” and stop the January 1 gas price hike before it damages California’s struggling economy and negatively affects millions hard working Californians! Visit their website at www.fedupatthepump.org to sign up and for more information.