Grand Canyon Times

On June 16, Arizona State Sen. Jake Hoffman and members of the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus issued a press release criticizing Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs for ignoring warnings of a critical gas shortage and creating pain at the pump for the state's drivers.

"Katie Hobbs Ignored Warning of Critical Gas Shortage in Arizona Leading to Pain at the Pump for Drivers," Hoffman wrote in a June 16 Twitter post.

The release cites a local media report that revealed a "troubling letter" sent to Hobbs in March by independent petroleum refiner HF Sinclair, warning the governor of a critical supply shortage in Arizona due to an unexpected equipment failure. This failure would stop the production of "Cleaner Burning Gasoline" required by the Biden Administration in Maricopa County, as well as parts of Pinal and Yavapai counties.

According to the release, the company asked Hobbs to request a waiver on the requirement for Cleaner Burning Gasoline from the Environmental Protection Agency. The Hobbs Administration denied the request, claiming the EPA would not approve it.

As the details came to light and the state continued to deal with higher prices due to the fuel shortage, members of Arizona's Senate Republican Caucus responded. "The average price for a gallon of gas right now in Maricopa County is a full $1 higher than the national average," Hoffman said. "This is extra money that could help with groceries, medications and other necessities many of our taxpayers are having a difficult time affording because of the Biden Administration's reckless policies leading to historic inflation."

"Hobbs had an opportunity to do the right thing by requesting this waiver to allow prices at the pump to drop, but she instead chose to selfishly play political games with the livelihoods of our citizens by refusing to back down from her woke 'green' agenda to appeal to her far-Left base," Hoffman said.