Republicans Slam Democrats’ “Affordability” Claims as Californians Face Sky-High Costs

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Democrats are patting themselves on the back for “delivering on Affordability and Housing in 2025.” But while Democrats celebrate in their echo chamber, California families are living in reality, facing sky-high gas prices, unaffordable housing, and rising utility bills.
“The Affordability Session has been a total failure. Democrats have ended the year right where they began: with the highest cost-of-living in the nation,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher. “They claim success, but the everyday Californian doesn’t feel it or see it. What have they actually done? What results have they achieved? All they’ve done is talk and hold feel-good press conferences. We’re still paying $5 a gallon at the pump, mortgage and rent costs keep climbing, and working families are falling further behind. And their last-minute energy package will only drive our electricity rates even higher.”
Let’s roll back the lowlights of this session:

• In just the first eight months of the session, Democrats proposed over $16 billion in new taxes and fees.
  • Valero and Phillips 66 announced they’re shutting down their California refineries, with experts warning Californians could soon be paying $8 to $10 a gallon for gas.
•  California’s electricity rates rose to more than double the U.S. average.

Republican common sense solutions were blocked at every turn. The largest middle-class tax cut in California history was killed. A plan to slash utility costs by 30 percent died. A “Cost of Living Week” to tackle California’s housing crisis never saw a single bill pass.
What did Democrats do instead of addressing California’s affordability crisis? They voted to ban cops from wearing masks while helping catch criminals, defunded Prop 36, and failed to put our kids’ safety first. Their deeply flawed budget is bankrupting Medi-Cal, undermined our safety net, and put California on a path towards multi-billion-dollar deficits.
California deserves better. Assembly Republicans won’t stop fighting to make life more affordable and deliver real results for working families.

###