Virginia House Democrats

Knee-Jerk Partisanship Undermines Gas Price Relief for Virginia Families

RICHMOND -- Yesterday, House Democratic Leaders announced that they will patron legislation during the 2009 General Assembly session to strengthen the Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act. Within a matter of hours, House Republicans signaled their intent to oppose the measure.

House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong's bill will clarify language in the code to provide for investigation of oil companies suspected of selling goods at unconscionable prices in Virginia during a state of emergency, and will expand the circumstances in which the Anti-Price Gouging Act could be triggered to include states of emergency declared outside of Virginia.

"This has nothing to do with price gouging, it has nothing to do with trying to keep the price of gasoline low," Del. Bill Janis (R-Henrico) hastily responded to Richmond's NBC12. "What this has everything to do with is... trying to score political points."

This is hardly the first time Janis and his counterparts have let partisanship cloud their vision. In July, Speaker Bill Howell's Rules committee advanced a transportation bill to the House floor with a six-cent gas tax attached. An amendment offered by Del. Armstrong and supported by House Democrats removed the provision.

"This is a politically motivated session. That's all it is," Janis said at the time. [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 6/24/08]