More smoke & mirrors!

Bush Has Ordered Probe Into Possible Illegal Manipulation of Gas Prices

Amid growing unhappiness among Americans about the rising price of gas, which now averages about $3 a gallon nationwide, President Bush has ordered an investigation into whether prices have been illegally manipulated, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday (April 24th). McClellan said that Bush has asked his Energy and Justice Departments to begin inquiries into possible cheating in the gas markets, and plans to announce the action during a speech today.

Congress has also been feeling pressure about the issue, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, both Republicans, sent a letter to the president yesterday urging a federal probe into any gas price gouging or market speculation. This came as a new CNN poll found 69 percent of Americans said gas price increases have caused them personal hardship.

McClellan said that Bush's action is part of a four-part plan to address gas prices, both in the short and long term:

*Making sure consumers and taxpayers are being treated fairly.
*Promoting greater fuel efficiency.
*Boosting gas supply at home.
*Having aggressive long-term investment in alternative fuels.