CoCoTax President Marc Joffe: Gas prices are 'taking their toll on drivers'

Marc Joffe, president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax), said that high taxes, special gas formulations, and adversarial regulation are contributing to higher gas prices in California compared to Texas. He made this statement on his social media platform X on February 15.

"In the wake of the Martinez refinery fire, California gas prices have soared," said Joffe. "We're now paying, on average, $2 per gallon more than Texans pay."

According to GasBuddy, as of 2025, California's average regular gas price stands at $4.735 per gallon, while Texas averages $2.694 per gallon, a difference of nearly $2.04. New Mexico's average is slightly higher than Texas at $2.893 per gallon. Mississippi has the lowest gas price at $2.628 per gallon, while Washington's prices have increased by $0.02.

Marc Joffe's X post | x.com

In California, approximately 75% of workers commute by car with an average one-way commute time of 28 minutes. Aston Carter reports that the state's high gas prices, averaging $4.68 per gallon as of November 2024, significantly impact these commuters, especially those with lower incomes. Employees earning $15 per hour may spend about 9% of their monthly income on fuel.

The Insurance Journal indicates that alongside high gas prices, rising insurance costs in California are driven by litigation and insurer exits, forcing small businesses to either cut coverage or shut down entirely. Auto insurance remains a significant challenge due to many carriers withdrawing from the market, resulting in costly and scarce policies. Businesses are responding by raising deductibles and reducing excess coverage options as limited choices and increasing premiums put pressure on transport-reliant and high-risk industries.

Joffe is a former Cato Institute analyst and Moody’s senior director specializing in government finance and state policy. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, and UC Berkeley publications; he holds an MBA from New York University (NYU).