Lawmaker: Gas price gouging evident

[Sgent]

<<Background: The MS House of Rep. formed a special committee to investigate gas prices a few months ago (before Katrina). They just happened to have a hearing yesterday. The Daily Journal is the largest non-corporate paper in the state, with over 100k circulation throughout the north half. Both the Jackson & Biloxi papers are owned by massive media conglomerates. The Daily Journal is a MSM source, but not nearly as bad as many.>>

9/16/2005 8:22:06 AM
Daily Journal


BY BOBBY HARRISON


Daily Journal Jackson Bureau


JACKSON - In the days immediately after Hurricane Katrina, refineries were charging as much as 80 cents per gallon more for non-branded gasoline than for name-brand gasoline.


As a result, many independent stations could not get gasoline supplies, according to testimony Thursday during a meeting of a fuel-price task force formed by House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi.


Rep. Jamie Franks, D-Mooreville, who is chairing the committee, said he believes the testimony reveals that the big companies "are obviously gouging the public."

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Grant Hedgepeth, head of the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's office, said Attorney General Jim Hood has joined with 43 other states' attorneys general to investigate the rising prices.

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The Daily Journal