May 25, 2006
May 25, 2006
Governor sends more than 275,000 signatures calling for cap on oil profits
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that 275,858 petition signatures calling for a cap on exorbitant oil profits are on their way to the White House. Standing amid the more than 10,000 sheets of paper that would have been needed to print the complete list, Granholm reiterated her call for federal action to protect Michigan families.
“More than a quarter million people have raised their voices together,” said Granholm. “Paying nearly $3.00 per gallon while oil companies enjoy $10 billion in tax breaks and rake in billions more in profits is just plain wrong.”
Granholm first launched the on-line petition on April 21 to send a clear message to Washington that action was needed to protect consumers from record prices and record profits for oil companies. Since the petition launch, oil companies have reported an additional $20 billion in profits in the first quarter, and the Federal Trade Commission has released a report indicating price gouging has occurred but recommending no additional federal action be taken.
Granholm also reminded consumers that the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has increased the number of gas inspectors over the past year and have inspectors on the road seven days a week to ensure that consumers are protected at the pumps. In a release this morning, the MDA outlined their summer efforts and asked Michigan drivers to report any quality or quantity concerns on the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-MDA-FUEL.
“As we head into the summer driving season, we are doing all that we can as a state to protect consumers at the pumps, and we feel a renewed sense of urgency for action by the Bush Administration,” said Granholm. “I hope he hears the loud and clear message being sent by so many people who are counting on him for help.”
The Governor’s efforts to fight the rising price of gas have earned the support of the Michigan Petroleum Association, the Michigan Association of Convenience Stores, and the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers of Michigan. Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin and Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona have also launched similar efforts in their states.
The on-line petition is just the latest in a series of actions Granholm has taken to protect consumers from rising gas prices in addition to calling on the President to cap oil profits in September 2005 and again in her 2006 State of the State message. Over the past three years, Granholm has:
increased gas pump inspections and called for legislation to require gas station operators prove their pumps have been calibrated and are working properly when they apply for renewal of their operator’s license – state law requires that licenses are renewed annually;
sent a letter to the federal Commodities Futures Trading Commission requesting they conduct an inquiry into all contributing factors in price spikes, including any role speculators have played in driving the inflation-adjusted price of oil and gasoline toward historic high levels;
signed executive orders temporarily suspending state laws restricting the supply of gasoline and increasing the diesel fuel supply and called on Marathon Oil Corporation to reduce the price of gas for Michigan customers, an action that resulted in an immediate drop in the price of gas by the company – steps taken in the wake of Hurricane Katrina;
directed the Michigan Department of Agriculture to conduct routine surveys of gasoline prices and directed the department to refer information about potential unfair pricing practices to prosecutors for possible legal action – a step that led to the felony conviction of a Macomb County service station caught defrauding customers;
supported legislation to add a legal cause of action to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act that would expressly ban the practice of price gouging during states of emergency declared by the governor.
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