California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed legislation that he claimed would prevent gas price spikes as representatives from the oil and gas industry asserted that the measure was an attempt to direct attention away from an upcoming state gas tax increase.

The bill signed by Newsom this week allows the state to “require oil refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of fuel” in the case of supply shortages which “create higher gasoline prices for consumers and higher profits for the industry.” The bill also permits the California Energy Commission to require refiners to “plan for resupply during refiner maintenance outages.”

Newsom remarked that California is not “waiting around for the industry to do the right thing” and is “taking action to prevent these price spikes and save consumers money at the pump.”

His official social media account released a cartoon this week narrated by Newsom in which oil executives are depicted as scheming nineteenth-century businessmen wearing three-piece suits, tophats, and monocles while they control former President Donald Trump like a puppet.

Western States Petroleum Association chief executive Catherine Reheis-Boyd meanwhile said in a statement that the special session under which the legislation was passed “served as a smokescreen” to hide a $0.47 per gallon gas tax increase slated for next year. She also raised concerns that the requirements for refineries would increase safety risks.

“We will continue to educate lawmakers and the public on the true factors driving California’s high costs of doing business,” Reheis-Boyd commented. “We welcome the opportunity to address the real issues driving fuel prices higher for Californians and their families.”

Phillips 66 made headlines days after the legislation was signed by announcing that they would cease operations at their refinery near Los Angeles by the end of next year.

The new bill comes as average gas prices in the state are $4.68 per gallon, which is $1.48 higher than the national average of $3.20 per gallon, according to data from AAA.

California Republicans have previously drawn attention to the expected $0.47 gas tax hike by drafting a letter to Newsom observing that they have asked him “for the past two years” to suspend the gas tax amid elevated energy prices. The lawmakers added that there is another forecasted $0.60 increase for the state gas tax scheduled to enter into effect next summer even as “the people of California are already grappling with the high cost of living in our state.”