Assembly GOP Leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley lost the support of the Riverside County Republican Party last night, one month after his vote in support of California’s cap-and-trade program. 300 Republicans heard Mayes explain his vote and the explanation did not satisfy party members, who voted to endorse Melissa Melendez of Lake Elsinore for Assembly GOP leader. On July 17, Mayes was one of eight Republicans to vote to extend the pollution credits program through 2030. Critics said the program will lead to a spike in gasoline prices statewide. Mayes had defended his vote, saying Republicans managed to get concessions from Democrats in exchange for GOP support of cap-and- trade, including the rollback of a fire- prevention fee paid by property owners in rural areas. Mayes firmly defended his cap-and- trade vote Thursday. “Cap-and-trade is a Republican idea. It is a free-market idea,” he said “Are Republicans going to be relevant in the discussion or let Democrats own the state?” Mayes asked whether people would rather see $1.25 per gallon or 40 cents a gallon gasoline price increase? “Which would you choose?” he asked. “We used our conservative principles to lower costs in the state, and I would do it all over again. The argument’s been made that we should let California go off a cliff, let the Democrats own it, but we all live here.”
