Washington – The House on Wednesday approved criminal penalties and fines of up to $150 million for energy companies caught price gouging, yet lawmakers acknowledged there is no quick and easy fix to higher prices at the pump.
President Bush summoned Democrats and Republicans to the White House to discuss legislation to address long-term energy concerns.
“The price of gasoline should serve as a wake-up call … that we’ve got an energy security problem and a national security problem, and now is the time to deal with it in a forceful way,” Bush said after the meeting.
With bipartisan support, the House approved on a 389-34 vote a measure that would create a price-gouging law and permit large fines and jail time for violators.
The Senate has yet to consider the legislation.
The House rejected a Republican bill that supporters said would make it easier to build refineries in hopes of easing tight gasoline supplies.
All but 13 Democrats opposed the measure, intended to quicken the permitting process.
They said it would not bring down gas prices, could lessen environmental protection and would usurp local say in where refineries go.
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., said the problem was not a delay in permitting.
“The real reason we have a refinery shortage is the companies that own refineries are profiting enormously from the … refinery bottlenecks,” he said.
Republicans branded Democrats as obstructionists on energy. The vote, 237-188, fell short of the two-thirds needed to pass under special procedures.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, a leading supporter of the refinery bill, promised to bring it back, possibly next week, under rules that require a simple majority for approval.
