DeWine, Kohl Continue Efforts to Reduce Gas Prices

DEWINE, KOHL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO REDUCE GAS PRICES

U.S. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, today announced that their legislation to permit the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to bring actions against foreign states - such as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - for collusive practices in setting the price or production of petroleum products passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Through setting prices and production levels, OPEC attacks our economy by raising gasoline prices at the pump, by raising heating oil costs for homes, and by raising jet fuel prices to airlines," said Senator DeWine. "Today's vote in the Judiciary Committee is a step in the right direction, and it shows that we will not stand idly by while OPEC brazenly fixes prices in violation of our antitrust laws. Every American is affected by the high prices we see on our home energy bills and at the gas pump, and our bill arms the Administration with the necessary weapon to combat these illegal practices."

"Throughout the last year, consumers all across the nation have watched gas prices rise to previously unimagined levels. Rising gas prices are a silent tax that takes hard-earned money away from Americans every time they visit the gas pump," Senator Kohl said. "And one fact has remained consistent - any move downward in price ends as soon as OPEC decides to cut production. The price of crude oil has danced to the tune set by OPEC members. Such blatantly anti-competitive conduct by the oil cartel violates the most basic principles of fair competition and free markets and should not be tolerated."

In 1979, a federal district court found that OPEC's price-fixing decisions were "governmental" - not "commercial" - acts and

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