Richard Tafoya
May 24th, 2007, 01:46 AM
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gasoline24may24,0,3926741.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel
The House today voted, 284-141, to pass a bill that would make gasoline price gouging a federal offense.
...
Many Republicans seemed prepared to support the anti-gouging bill despite a White House veto threat. The 284 House members, who voted for the bill, included 56 Republicans.
The legislation would give federal authorities the power during presidentially declared energy emergencies to investigate and prosecute anyone selling fuel at a price that is "unconscionably excessive" or "indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage unusual market conditions."
The White House contends that the definition of gouging is vague and would make the law difficult to enforce. The administration also questioned the need for the legislation, noting that many states currently have price-gouging laws.
During House debate, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said that if "pandemic price gouging" were going on, states with anti-gouging laws would be flooding the courts with complaints. Instead, he said, demand for oil is up. The markets were doing what markets do, he said, noting: "If you don't have more of it, prices are going to go up."
But Stupak told his colleagues that they had a simple choice: "Vote to stand up for consumers, your constituents, who are paying record prices, or vote to protect big oil companies' enormous profits."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gasoline24may24,0,3926741.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel
The House today voted, 284-141, to pass a bill that would make gasoline price gouging a federal offense.
...
Many Republicans seemed prepared to support the anti-gouging bill despite a White House veto threat. The 284 House members, who voted for the bill, included 56 Republicans.
The legislation would give federal authorities the power during presidentially declared energy emergencies to investigate and prosecute anyone selling fuel at a price that is "unconscionably excessive" or "indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage unusual market conditions."
The White House contends that the definition of gouging is vague and would make the law difficult to enforce. The administration also questioned the need for the legislation, noting that many states currently have price-gouging laws.
During House debate, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said that if "pandemic price gouging" were going on, states with anti-gouging laws would be flooding the courts with complaints. Instead, he said, demand for oil is up. The markets were doing what markets do, he said, noting: "If you don't have more of it, prices are going to go up."
But Stupak told his colleagues that they had a simple choice: "Vote to stand up for consumers, your constituents, who are paying record prices, or vote to protect big oil companies' enormous profits."