California congresswoman sounds alarmed by state high gas prices, but says she hopes the Biden administration ‘does not have to intervene’

“The average price is $ 4. And in many places it’s $ 5. I know the oil industry said that one of the reasons for the price increase was that they had to slow down production because they had to do some maintenance.” Rep. Karen Bass told CNN’s Jake Tapper about “State of the Union.” “We need to reduce the price of gas in California.”

Asked by Tapper if she would support the Biden administration’s takeover of the country’s strategic petroleum reserve in an effort to bring prices down, the California Democrat replied, “Well, I’m not sure. I mean, that’s definitely something that could be done.”

“But I’m a little more concerned that oil producers may come online again,” she added. “So hopefully we will see a reduction and the administration does not have to intervene.”

CNN reported Friday that California gas prices hit an average price of $ 4,658 that day, about a penny less than the highest recorded average price of $ 4,671 for regular gasoline set in October 2012, according to AAA. Prices mean that state residents are seeing the highest gas prices in the country, with the national average falling slightly to $ 3,416 on Friday.

Gas prices have risen steadily over the year as fuel demand grows across the globe and suppliers have been unable – or unwilling – to produce more oil. Although US oil prices have risen by more than 65% this year, US oil production is about 14% below the level at the end of 2019 before the coronavirus broke out around the country.

In a separate interview with Tapper on Sunday, Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, would not directly answer whether President Joe Biden was willing to open the U.S. strategic oil reserve or stop gas and oil exports to meet rising crude oil prices.

“We are very committed to doing everything we can to ensure that US consumers do not bear the brunt of high gas prices and volatile energy prices, and the President has made it clear that all options are on the table,” he said.

Utilizing the supply of SPR, which is designed to protect the nation from a major disruption in oil supply, is likely to provide only modest, temporary relief from higher prices at the pump.

Last week, Biden was committed to ordering an SPR release after the OPEC + coalition rejected calls from the United States and other major, oil-consuming nations to increase production by more than planned in December.

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