Bush Threatens Veto of Gas Gouging Bill

[NightWatcher]

Please forgive me if this has already been posted, but this just pissed me off so much.

http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20070523-000763-1310
<snip>
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- President Bush is likely to veto legislation that would create hefty fines and criminal penalties for gasoline price-gouging, the White House said Wednesday.


The threat came as the House prepared to vote on a Democratic plan aimed at battling rising gasoline prices by requiring the Federal Trade Commission to define "price gouging." The bill would create fines and criminal penalties, including jail time, for industry executives found guilty of gouging.


The White House, in a formal statement of administration policy, said the legislation amounted to price controls that would hinder oil companies and retailers from responding to market signals, potentially worsening fuel shortages.


"Gasoline price controls are an old -- and failed -- policy choice that will exacerbate shortages and increase fuel hoarding after natural disasters, denying fuel to people when they most need it," the White House said, adding that Bush's senior advisers would recommend a veto of the House bill or any similar legislation that makes it to his desk
<snip>


This just screams bullshit, the fix is in.....again.
Soon we march, but right now I need to go get a drink

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Bush doesn't think there's any such thing as price gouging

That's what Ken Lay told him once a long time ago.

[BlooInBloo]

2. There's always another opportunity for Dems to prove that they're vertabrates.

[tom_paine]

6. I'll believe it when I see it. How many chances does that make it?

They are batting 0 for 397. Or, taking the best possible view of their actions, perhaps 10 out of 397.

woo-hoo.

[BlooInBloo]

7. (shrug) The cliche is applicable here: people only remember the failures...

... The successes like Social Security go by the wayside whenever something goes wrong.

Even so, yah - our representatives' spine record isn't anywhere near what we'd like it to be. That's why I pointed out that we have another opportunity. No time like the present.

[tom_paine]

10. That is indeed the best possible view of their actions

Yah. They saved the most wildly successful program in history and one with something like 90% approval still when the question is phrased, "Would you support the ending of Social Security if it meant your parents would have to move in with you in their elder years?"

It is 60-70% approved of otherwise.

For my next trick, I will take the brave stand and oppose murder...it's bad, very bad.

I am just tired, so very tired of these bozos failing us time and again. And I have busted my ass and donated to them time and again these last 6 years.

[greenbriar]

3. the only bills he vetos are those that would actually help us regular people

compassionate my ass

[MadMaddie]

4. So I say let him Veto it...send the bill to the WH

Remember he didn't veto one Republican bill.....while they were in power..

And now he is going to Veto a bill that touches almost every American...

Go for it *.....Record Profits for the Oil Industry.....while people cut back on needs in their lives so they can put gas in their cars...

The American people are on to you.....The Democratic Led Congress not so much..

[AuntPatsy]

5. It seems never ending. What next?

[tom_paine]

9. Nuclear 9/11 (God Forbid) and the imposition of Bush Reich forever

I don't like the chatter I am hearing.

http://progressive.org/mag_wx051807

[AuntPatsy]

11. Echoing you "God Forbid" I wouldn't like such chatter either.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. I'm almost afraid too find out. It won't be anything good or that benefits the greater good of

most of us. He really does hate those of us that aren't in his financial league. Had enough yet FReepers? Morans!

[MikeNearMcChord]

8. Bush screwing his oil buddies?

Hell cannot take that snowball, it would be too overwhelming.

[gravity]

12. How is this price gouging defined?

The problem with this bill is there is no clear definition of price gouging. There is no way for a person to tell if they are breaking the law or not.

[Jim Warren]

13. The White House, in a formal statement

The White House, in a formal statement of administration policy, said the legislation amounted to price controls that would hinder oil companies from reaping huge and obscene profits at the expense of the driving public.

[Bitwit1234]

14. It is about damn time the democrats go ahead...pass the bill....and then

tell the republicans if they don't help over ride the veto they are going to flood the news and TV with the fact that republicans have no compassion for the people in this country. That they are supporting oil companies who are bleeding the public dry. GET SOME SPINE DEMS....EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AND REPEAT IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

[KamaAina]

15. Oh bollocks. This bill is as toothless as the damn benchmarks.

i.e. the ones that the Warmonger-in-Chief can simply waive whenever he feels like it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070523/ap_on_go_co/gasoline_prices_congress

Stupak's proposal only would go into effect — and then for just 30 days — if the president declared an energy emergency.

And Commander Cuckoo Bananas is going to veto this?! All he has to do is, like, not declare an energy emergency, and nothing happens.

Of course, as of 1/20/09, we will have a real, elected President who might well do such a thing -- but s/he can just go ahead and sign a tougher bill passed by a more solidly Dem Congress, so there!

[Canuckistanian]

16. Has there EVER been gas price controls?

I certainly don't remember any in my lifetime.

And I remember milkmen.

[gravity]

17. They were responsible for the lines at gas stations in the 70s

[Canuckistanian]

19. Really? I thought it was an OPEC embargo

Shows how much I know.

[tom_paine]

22. That is such absolute bullshit! Got any sources to back it up.

And no thanks, I don't need to be linked to the Heritage Foundation, thank you.

[B Calm]

18. If we had democrats with a spine, I would say go ahead and let

Bush veto it. The democrats could make great news about how Bush doesn't care for working people! They could talk about how he takes care of the people who put him in the White House and the ones who convinced him to invade Iraq.

[bullwinkle428]

20. Who could ever have imagined something like this happening

once we put two oil men in the White House????

:sarcasm:

[Hubert Flottz]

21. Good that will help the GOPers out in 2008

right out of office!

[Bluerthanblue]

24. of course he does- and he'll do it, and no one will stop him-

why should they?

why should they even try? We don't have the votes to over-ride his veto- so what is the point???

:sarcasm:

trust is not easily regained once broken.