California Democrats want to slash gas prices, a state climate policy will raise them

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday aimed at easing spikes in California’s already high gasoline prices, a key consumer protection that he’d sought from a special legislative session.

Whether Newsom’s proposed reserve requirement for the state’s gas refineries, cheered by consumer advocates, will keep fuel prices in check remains to be seen — the fuel industry, labor unions, Republicans and governors of two neighboring states say that it could create shortages and higher prices.