The state of California plans to block the transportation of oil through the state from new offshore oil drilling platforms. The move appears designed to hamstring President Trump’s plan to increase oil production in the United States.
“One State Makes Bid For Most Anti-Gun State In Just One Legislative Session,” stated Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, chair of the State Lands Commission and a Democratic candidate for governor, in an email statement reported by Reuters. The article also reported that Newsom’s commission sent a letter to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) asking Kelly Hammerle, the bureau’s program manager, to withdraw the draft energy proposal. The letter argues that the public didn’t get sufficient time to comment.
“It is certain that the state would not approve new pipelines or allow use of existing pipelines to transport oil from new leases onshore,” the letter reportedly said.
I’m not sure California wants to go down that road. It seems clear that the plain language of the Left’s favorite Constitution passage to distort, the Commerce Clause, puts this power in federal hands.
This is especially humorous considering that California would benefit from lower fuel prices as much, if not more than any other state. Lower fuel prices mean consumers have more funds available for other products, thus stimulating the economy’s other sectors. California has stringent energy regulations for air quality, so relief in energy prices is a net win for everyone there.
Yet California wants to stomp its feet and hold its breath like a spoiled two-year-old who has to go to bed instead of staying up all night watching cartoons. They’re the petulant child of the United States, and they’re just as irritating as the non-metaphorical versions are.
Of course, the real motivation here is political. California politicians are putting themselves above their constituents.
California’s elected officials simply don’t want to see President Trump succeed. They know that lower fuel prices will be good for everyone. They know that voters will see yet another positive accomplishment by a Republican. And that’s the last thing they want to happen going into the midterm elections — people actually pleased with their government, for once.
They know what they’re doing, and while it’s still a temper tantrum, it’s also politics as usual from the blue state.
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