The bill would bar selling fuel at a price that is “unconscionably excessive” or that indicates the seller is exploiting an energy emergency. It would grant the Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority to punish companies caught price gouging.
The 217-207 vote fell almost entirely along party lines with no Republicans supporting the legislation and only four Democrats opposing.Fletcher said in a statement that she appreciates the effort to bring down gas prices but that bill is not the answer. Those high prices are the result of basic supply and demand forces, she said.
“The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act would not fix high gasoline prices at the pump, and has the potential to exacerbate the supply shortage our country is facing, leading to even worse outcomes,” Fletcher said. The bill is almost certain to fall short of the required 60 votes to break a Senate Republican filibuster, making the proposal ultimately a messaging tool. Democrats are scrambling to get a handle on inflation broadly and skyrocketing gas prices specifically ahead of November’s midterm elections.. Joseph Morton covers the intersection of business and politics in the Washington Bureau. Before joining The News, Joseph worked for CQ Roll Call and the Omaha World-Herald.
Hope the House punishes Biden for his Energy Policies and revokes all of his Executive Orders canceling Trump’s policies that had the USA on the right path. Restart Keystone Pipeline.
We need to start looking (and funding) more alternative fuel sources.
Doubt Congress will ever except responsibility for their part in high gas prices, energy bills high grocery prices and worse economy in decades
How about punishing the party and it's administration that opened the flood gates and empowered them to do so?
A free economy is not that one where the citizens of a Nation are forced to go broke or not being able to meet their needs fbecause the natural resources of their own land are monopolized and controlled by very few individuals.
The Irony of seeing with our own eyes why would these countries that we ended invading, occupying and brutally sanctioning their economy for nationalizing their natural resources such as oil against the American corp. . We label them communist for stepping up for their people
How about the 'house' STOP SENDING BILLIONS TO UKRAINE ‼️
We need to punish Congress!
While exempting the guiltiest party of all...itself.
Republicans will vote against it..it doesn't help their donors so therefore high gas prices are on the Republicans!!
The U.S. House is a company that happens to be taking advantage of drivers oddly enough....
🙏🙏🙏🙏
American companies are being price gouged by foreign pigs in OPEC. All this serves to do is make American distributors sell gas at a severe loss for them.
Theirs no price gouging happening in America were just being ripped off by the Arabs and Russia who they cant do jack sh** about price gouging thanks to democrats war on energy taking away our energy independence.
ReticentQT you mean house dems vote to punish. Republicans get paid based on their votes for big oil. They don't care about the people paying more. Insures they get money to stay in power. People catching on yet?
Good luck getting it through the Senate with a GQP filibuster.
What about elected officials who take advantage of citizens?
Thank you, POTUS
That's laughable. We are such brats. I lived in Japan twice. Even now our gas prices are nothing.
No irony there…
This should be a no brainer.
Welcome to Memorial Day weekend. They know we all want to go n vacation, so they’re going to get as deep into our wallets as they can.
Yes … but I bet the Gop sides with gas companies over people
Take advantage? Gas prices are a result of supply/demand. Lower the price and we run out of supply.
Republicans voted against it.
Soar just because Biden closed down teh Pipe-line and supports Russia go Democrats
It’s not surprising a dem out of Houston (no doubt bought and paid for by the oil and gas industry) would vote No, nor is it surprising every republican voted No. Follow the money.