Nothing like micromanaging and overregulation to help a good ole' free market breathe and operate vibrantly.

California, already home to the highest gasoline prices in the U.S., is now bracing for another seasonal surge. The state’s energy regulator has cautioned gasoline traders that it is monitoring the market closely as refinery maintenance squeezes supplies.

In a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom last week, the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight pointed to both planned and unexpected refinery outages, noting that such disruptions are common in autumn—and that sharp price increases also hit in 2022 and 2023, Bloomberg reported this week. 

Average prices at California pumps reached $4.66 per gallon on Tuesday, $1.48 above the national average. The state’s unique fuel blends, required under strict environmental rules, make it harder to secure alternative supplies when local refineries shut down. Over time, the industry has also reduced capacity in California, further tightening the market.

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Throck my AI has this estimate): "Depending on approach, one credible “bottom line” is: ~$273 billion in noncurrent obligations for the state (not including local governments), plus substantial pension & retiree health debts (another $100-200 billion or more). If you include all state & local obligations and unfunded liabilities, the total “debt” picture rises toward $500 billion+, and some analyses push it up to ~$1.6 trillion."

And what if the state CANNOT pay that surge in unemployment benefits?!?  We will have Californians out of jobs and money; evicted; credit cards cancelled; medical insurance cancelled, and a slue of unpayable medical bills, due to not being able to get care through their insurance, particularly if they are older.

The Dementocrats even THINKING about running Newsom in 2028, are out of their collective minds.  

Oh yes, the guy is "telegenic" enough; but so short on real brain power and problem solving,  that the California cities run by Dementocratic mayors (Oakland, San Fran, and Los Angeles) have been decaying into major drug and homelessness centers for years, with no real help to be found from Sacramento. (Comment from WRH)