SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Californians who own cars could get up to $800 from the state to help offset record high gas prices.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the proposal on Wednesday. His plan calls for registered owners to get $400 per vehicle, capped at two cars.
"That direct relief will address the issue that we all are struggling to address, and that's the issue of gas prices not only here in our state but all across this country,” Newsom said.
That includes people who own electric cars. For people who don't have cars, Newsom wants the state to pay for their bus or train fare for three months.
In total, the proposal would cost $11 billion. About $1.1 billion would be used to pause scheduled increases in state taxes for diesel and regular gas.
Regular grade gas is a state record $5.88 per gallon in California, highest in the nation.
With those rising prices, the announcement is a welcomed sight for drivers.
"That would be nice. I sure need it. My rent is high and my rent take all of my money. Then I got to put gas in here and pay insurance," said David Smith.
"It'd be pretty nice but I'm just wondering where it came from and who's going to pay for it,” said Ruben Garcia.
The plan would still need to be approved by the state legislature.
Now both state democrat and republican lawmakers have put forth their own ideas for ways to lessen the load of Californians with these surging prices.
Local state senator Brian Jones says it's good answer for getting people some help.
But he feels there's a different way to go about it.
"I still think that suspending the gas tax is still the best. We can do that immediately. Waiting till July for a rebate check, great. That gives us relief in July. But Californians need relief right now,” said Jones.
