On Tuesday, Legislative Republicans formally requested the State Legislature to reconvene in Sacramento to act on reducing gas prices and tackling other urgent matters, such as rampant crime and homelessness.
Pursuant to Joint Rule 52, the Legislature may be recalled from joint recess and reconvene in regular session at the request of 10 or more Members of the Legislature, which was accomplished by today’s request. The Assembly Speaker and Senate President pro Tempore are now required to act within 10 days. If the two legislative leaders do not approve the request, Republicans will take the next step of Joint Rule 52 which includes petitioning every member of the Legislature to come back into Session to address these urgent issues, which requires a two-thirds vote.
“We cannot wait until next year,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City). “Soaring gas prices and the explosion of violent crime and homeless camps must be addressed immediately. Californians expect and deserve their government to act, especially to lower prices at the pump. Republicans are ready and willing.”
Earlier this year, Republicans made three attempts to lower fuel prices by suspending the state’s .54 cent gas tax, but were denied by opposition from the Democrat supermajority, Gallagher said. With gas prices soaring to record levels, Republican lawmakers are again insisting that the Legislature suspend the state gas tax and reduce the fees and regulations that make California gas so much more expensive than the rest of the nation.
Additionally, Republicans in the State Senate and State Assembly have legislation prepared to address the homelessness crisis, should Democrats agree to a return to work.
As noted in Monday’s request, Republicans are also prepared to move quickly on bipartisan legislation to re-classify crimes such as domestic violence, human trafficking, and rape of an unconscious person as “violent” felonies under California penal code. ■