The Governor proclaims, “California is back.” Back to what? Going where?

California has the highest state income and corporate taxes. On Jan. 1, California introduced a new carbon tax on corporations and oil refineries.

This tax is now being felt at the pump. Gasoline and diesel refined for California are special blends sold only in California. This fuel costs more to produce at the refinery and delivers three to four fewer miles per gallon then blends of fuels sold elsewhere in the United States and abroad.

Gasoline refined in California and shipped to Nevada costs 40 cents a gallon less at the pump and diesel is 50 cents cheaper. The United States is the only country in the world where diesel costs more than gasoline. Ethanol is not used in gasoline in Europe because of the energy required to produce it. Europeans do not divert food products to make fuel.

Twenty-two-million-plus California vehicles are getting three to four miles less per gallon then the rest of the world. How is that helping the environment?