FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 16, 2023
Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee Reveals
Governor Katie Hobbs Contributed to Arizona's Soaring Gas Prices
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate and House Republicans are considering safeguards for Arizonans from soaring gas prices, after testimony in a study committee today exposed Governor Katie Hobbs' failure to respond to a supply chain disruption on fuel earlier this year, costing Maricopa County residents potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.
In the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Air Quality and Energy, Michelle Wilson, Regulatory Compliance Administrator for the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures, admitted the Hobbs Administration was passive when oil companies in March warned of refinery shutdowns. This catastrophe reduced the supply of the type of gasoline drivers in Maricopa County are required to fill their tanks with, known as Cleaner Burn Gas (CBG), in order for Arizona to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act requirements.
According to Wilson, for the first time in five years, the Governor's office received a request from refineries to ask the EPA for a waiver, allowing for an alternative fuel type to provide an adequate supply for drivers, and preventing a hike in gas prices. Governor Hobbs' office had conversations with the EPA about submitting a request for a waiver, but the EPA convinced Hobbs to not submit one.
"Rather than making a case on behalf of Arizonans struggling to fill their tanks with prices hitting $5 per gallon, Governor Hobbs chose to not push back against the EPA and was complicit with the Biden Administration's pro-inflation, radical environmentalist agenda," said Senator Sine Kerr, committee co-chair. "As a result of Hobbs' inaction, Maricopa County drivers were forced to shell out an extra several hundred million dollars just to get to their destinations during this supply disruption."
"It's clear Governor Hobbs is taking her marching orders from the federal government, instead of serving the best interests of our citizens," said Senator Frank Carroll, committee member. "While Republicans were securing a tax rebate to give $260 million dollars back to Arizona families hurting from historic price hikes, the Governor sat on her hands and cost families at least half that amount at the pump. We plan to analyze potential changes to policy to protect Arizonans from these irresponsible actions by the Executive Branch and reckless big government overreach."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus