California’s gas prices hit $5.52/gallon, sparking debate over tax suspension and regulations.

Gas prices in California have reached $5.52 per gallon, the highest in the country. This is because of the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has made the oil market unstable, and because California relies on imported crude oil. Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa, two Democrats running for governor, want California's 61-cent-per-gallon gas tax to be put on hold for a short time and refinery rules to be relaxed to lower costs. They say that state policies make inflation worse. Republicans also want tax cuts, but state officials, including Governor Newsom, don't want to suspend the tax because it is important for funding infrastructure. Economists say that too many rules could lead to shortages, while consumer advocates say that targeted measures are better than broad tax cuts.