LANSING, Mich. - Today Senator Glenn S. Anderson introduced legislation, Senate Bills 1504 and 1505, that would give the Michigan Attorney General additional tools to investigate price-fixing and gas-gouging at Michigan's gas pumps.

“With gas prices going through the roof, we need to make sure Michigan citizens aren’t paying any more for gas than they should be,” said Anderson. “By providing the attorney general with additional tools to crack down on price-gouging gas stations, we can be sure consumers are being treated fairly at the pumps.”

SB 1504 would amend the Michigan Consumer Protection Act by giving the attorney general the ability to issue a civil investigative demand against companies believed to be in violation of the act without having to first obtain a court-ordered subpoena based on probable cause. With these amendments, the attorney general would be able to more efficiently investigate a potential violation of the act.

SB 1505 would amend the Michigan Antitrust Reform Act to expand the ability of the attorney general and local prosecutors to investigate anti-competitive conduct by the state's retail gasoline industry by authorizing them to investigate and file actions based on possible violations of both state and federal antitrust laws.

Anxious motorists flocked to gas stations last week even as gas prices spiked 43.1 cents in the state since Hurricane Ike landed on the Texas shore, according to AAA Michigan. Michigan’s attorney general is reportedly already looking into more than 20 consumer complaints about possible gouging and states across the country are on the lookout for unscrupulous actions. Earlier this week the House announced that they will be taking up similar legislation to further protect consumers from gas gouging.

# # #