OIL ANXIETY: Two special session bills meant to prevent gas price spikes easily cleared the Assembly today — but the votes put lawmakers facing reelection battles in a tough spot. Members in purple districts had to choose: side with consumers over Big Oil and score points with environmentalists, or vote against the legislation to avoid the wrath of Republicans and petroleum trade groups. Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, a vulnerable moderate Democrat from Santa Clarita, decided not to make the choice — she didn’t even show up at the Capitol. A spokesperson said she “had a meeting today in district that she could not reschedule due to availability of all parties.” Gov. Gavin Newsom has said his proposal to give the state more control over oil refiners’ gas supply was in the works long before he called a special session on the last night of the legislative year. But Newsom’s insistence on jamming his legislation through the Capitol — and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ push for more time on the bills — guaranteed a vote about a month before the election. This tension quickly became clear when it was time to vote, although members ultimately approved the bills 44-17 and 67-0. Other at-risk Assembly Democrats like Esmeralda Soria of Fresno and Jasmeet Bains — who represents an oil-rich district near Bakersfield — voted “no” with Republicans on Newsom’s plan requiring oil companies to maintain gas supplies at a certain level. Soriar echoed oil industry arguments that the governor’s proposal could raise gas prices. “The bill’s new regulations are unproven, risky, and could ultimately hurt the communities that can least afford it,” Soria said in a statement. Bains declined to comment. Last year, she faced the wrath of former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon when she broke with Democrats on Newsom’s oil profits penalty and joined Republicans on a gas tax suspension vote. Rendon temporarily booted Bains from the Assembly Business and Professions Committee after her decision, although he later reinstated her. Some moderates — including Assemblymembers Blanca Rubio, Stephanie Nguyen, Jacqui Irwin and Carlos Villapudua — were present but didn't vote. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a moderate Democrat from Torrance, gave a floor speech expressing support for the storage proposal, but only after mentioning all the refineries in his district and his concerns about the policy’s impact on worker safety. Rivas in a post-vote conversation with reporters downplayed the floor action's proximity to the election, asking, “Is there really ever a good time to vote on any of these bills?” He painted caucus divisions in a positive light, emphasizing the group’s “diversity.” “Naturally, legislators are mindful of their responsibility to represent their districts and their communities, their constituents,” he said. “That's why it was very important to have a process in this where we were able to engage, to better understand the impacts this policy would have, to engage with stakeholders that had concerns.” As part of that process, Rivas said, assemblymembers will likely return in the next two weeks to take up amendments added in the Senate. That means they’ll probably have one final vote even closer to Election Day.
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