Perdue signs order allowing sanctions against gas gougers

[quaoar]

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=64609

Perdue signs order allowing sanctions against gas gougers

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

With some retailers advertising gasoline prices as high as $6 per gallon, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed an executive order Wednesday authorizing state sanctions against gas stations that gouge consumers.

"I do not believe there is an energy emergency in this state but we will not tolerate our citizens perceiving the fact there is by exorbitant price-gouging prices," he said.

Perdue's order allows the Gov.'s Office of Consumer Affairs to seek civil sanctions against retailers who can't justify their prices based on the price they paid at the terminal for the product, adjusted for their normal markup.

"Frankly, when you prey upon the fears, the paranoia of citizens, it is akin to looting in a different sort of way," Perdue said.

[madeline_con]

1. Aren't there laws already, concerning federal gas taxes and...

how much can be charged legally, etc?

[napi21]

3. I don't know. I've never heard of any.

Where did you hear it?

[madeline_con]

4. Last year, after the hurricanes here in FL....

I heard a couple running a little Indian store was arrested for gauging.

[napi21]

2. I've never been a Sonny fan, but he's right with this one!

I heard his statement on the nightly news. He said, any retailer caught gouging will go to jail!

I also have to tell you, people in Atlanta are being stupid! Unless you really have no gas in your tank and NEED it tomorrow, STAY HOME! The only reason this foolishness worked is because people here panic!

Just watch 'em when the weather guy forcasts snow flurries! Same damn thing!

[Charlie Brown]

5. I can't stand Perdue

but this declaration makes him a little more bearable.

[brentspeak]

6. I wish we could also legally go after Big Oil for their gauging

[napi21]

7. There has been talk about windfall prifit tax. I have no idea if it will

gp anywhere or not.

[RoyGBiv]

8. Of course ...

Note how the order singles out individual gougers, which are an extreme minority that is more drama than actual substance, and completely fails to address the underlying problem of Big Oil. The refinery and oil company can charge whatever it wants, and the result is another round of enormous tax incentives and a pat on the back.

Some local guy in a moment of greed gets fined. I'm not saying that local guy shouldn't get fined, just that this solves absolutely nothing.

The distributors that sell to the stations, which are controlled by petroleum companies, are by and large the ones raising prices so dramatically.

The Phillips-Conoco loading rack sold contracts for individual shipments at $2.67~/gal at 8am in OKC. At 5pm, the contracts were going for 2.95~/gal.

[CottonBear]

9. I'm in Athens. The entire state freaked today. Up to $6 gal in Atlanta

It was a crisis in the making. I got news of Fed employees who got early word of Perdue's actions (by e-mail and spread the word...) The news spread. I talked to my local Indian gas station owner: he denied price gouging and said "the others were raising prices..." He'd SOLD OUT of gas for high prices.

It was fucking insane. I filled up (already empty) for $2.99/GAL at 2:30 pm up 35 cents from yesterday. Massive lines at all Athens area gas stations.
:scared: Too fucking bad Perdue: they already gouged and scared and robbed us blind.
Did I mention I detest Perdue?