DENVER-
The lawmaker who fought to exempt rural areas from cut-rate gasoline promotions said Thursday he didn’t intend to ban other discounts as well—from free coffee to cheap Thanksgiving turkeys—as opponents warned his provision would do.
At the request of Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, the Senate voted to exempt counties with fewer than 200,000 people from a bill aimed at allowing large retailers to resume gas discounts. Stores on the populous Front Range would be able to sell gas below cost, but those in the state’s 55 smaller counties would not.
Opponents of Isgar’s change, including Attorney General John Suthers, say his wording would prevent any promotion where things are sold below cost or given away.
Isgar said his amendment was drafted quickly because the bill was moving rapidly toward approval. It now has to go back to the House, which approved gas promotions for the whole state.
Isgar said the problem can be fixed in a conference committee with members from both the House and Senate.
While large retailers have competition on the Front Range, smaller cities usually have only one large store offering discounted gas, Isgar said. He said that could drive independent stations out of businesses and eliminate competition.
