AFFORDABILITY by Tom Reynolds
Affordability is the big issue in this year’s election and one party seems to blame President Trump for all problems in that area. However, a deeper look would indicate something different; the party complaining has the worst affordability record. Asking them to fix the issue is like asking Doctor Kevorkian to be your family doctor.
All the below figures are for the ‘lower 48.’
Gasoline Prices for Regular Gas October 31st
Per Triple AAA**
Highest Price
California $5.91
Nevada $5.24;
Washington $5.21
Oregon $4.80
Illinois $4.74
Utah $4.57
Michigan $4.57
Idaho $4.56
Arizona $4.44
Pennsylvania $4.44
Wyoming $4.37
New York $4.35 (We’re only #12, so we’ll have to try harder)
Remember when Democrats, as a way to save the planet, said they wanted to raise prices to Europe’s level?
Success!
Note: California’s restrictions on refineries drags many neighboring states into gasoline price purgatory, although the prices in these states are much lower than in California
Lowest Price
Texas $3.36
North Carolina $3.39
Georgia $3.59
South Carolina $3.68
Louisianna $3.72
Tennessee $3.73
Alabama $3.75
Mississippi $3.79
Tax collections per capita
Per the Tax Foundation*
Highest
District of Columbia ($15,009),
New York ($12,506),
North Dakota ($9,834),
Hawaii ($9,758),
Connecticut ($9,388), and
New Jersey ($9,178).
Note: North Dakota produces a lot of oil, taxed at the well-head, and have a small population. So, the tax burden on the populace is actually low.
New York has a lot of Natural Gas but has virtually no well heads to tax so the tax burden on the populace is high.
Lowest
Mississippi ($4,868),
Tennessee ($4,912),
Alabama ($4,950),
South Carolina ($4,984),
Arizona ($5,006).
Electricity – Residential Price
Per the US Energy Information Administration ***
Highest Electric rates
California 33.61¢/kWh)
Maine 32.41¢/kWh; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Member
Massachusetts 30.49¢/kWh; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Member
New York 29.90¢/kWh; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Member
Rhode Island 28.29¢/kWh; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Member
New Hampshire 26.60¢/kWh; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Member
New Jersey 25.19¢/kWh). Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Member
Many Northeastern states that have joined the “Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative” to intentionally drive up their electricity prices.
Success!
Lowest electric rates
Louisiana 12.72¢/kWh;
Nevada 12.77¢/kWh;
Utah 13.12¢/kWh;
North Dakota 13.41¢/kWh;
Tennessee 13.71¢/kWh;
Idaho 13.73¢/kWh;
Nebraska 13.78¢/kWh;
Kentucky 13.81¢/kWh;
Wyoming 14.36¢/kWh;
Oklahoma 14.35¢/kWh;
Arkansas 14.33¢/kWh.
* State and Local Tax Collections Per Capita by State, 2026
** AAA Fuel Prices
*** Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
