Crist Questions Big Oil About Prices, Speaks To FTC

www.news4jax.com Posted: 10:41 a.m. EST February 26, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Big Oil representatives are telling Attorney General Charlie Crist that the threat of war with Iraq, a two-month strike in Venezuela and a cold winter are driving would gas prices up.

Crist questioned officials from six companies yesterday, asking for an explanation of how pricing works in the petroleum industry. It's part of a general, but so far informal, inquiry into why gas prices in Florida have risen to their highest February level ever.

Crist says his office has gotten 176 complaints from Florida residents in the last week about the rising cost of gas at the pumps. He says the oil companies cite international pressures on the price of crude oil that are beyond their control.

Crist says he's not suggesting government interfere with the setting of prices on the gasoline market. He says he's only trying to see if there are any violations of antitrust laws.

Crist also was on a conference call Tuesday with 10 other attorneys general from around the country and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy Muris, discussing the rising cost of gasoline.