OAN Staff Jenna Lee
11:18 AM –Friday, May 1, 2026
Representative Ken Calvert has introduced a resolution in Congress where he labeled the Golden State’s energy policies as a “mess” that is both “busting wallets” and “risking security.”
Calvert’s (R-Calif.) resolution targets California’s regulatory environment, which he claims has shuttered local energy output and left the state dangerously dependent on foreign oil.
“California’s radical anti-energy policies are having a devastating effect on our economy as well as our national security,” Calvert stated. “The high taxes and burdensome red tape put in place by liberals in Sacramento have resulted in declining energy production as well as refining capacity. While California families are routinely hit with the highest gasoline prices in the country, the one thing worse than expensive energy is no energy.”
Calvert specifically targeted the financial burden on residents, emphasizing that the “all-in” cost of state-level intervention is staggering.
“All in, Californians are paying around $1.10-$1.40 per gallon in state taxes, climate programs, and regulatory costs alone,” he emphasized.
He also noted that refineries have been pushed to shut down and production to plummet, forcing California to use foreign oil more heavily. This dependency, Calvert argues, creates a strategic vulnerability for the state’s numerous military installations, for which he oversees funding as Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
Experts warn that Californians could experience more pain at the pump in the coming weeks. California drivers could see average gas prices skyrocket to their highest levels since 2022, according to a senior analyst at GasBuddy.
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