Gas Price-Gouging Ban Measure Fails to Advance in Senate Panel

Democratic legislation that would increase financial penalties on anyone manipulating prices at the gas pump failed to advance out of Senate committee Wednesday.

The bill, similar to one (H.R. 7688) that the House narrowly passed last week, represents Democrats’ latest effort to ease spiking prices US consumers pay for gasoline. Some Democrats say oil companies’ price gouging has contributed to gasoline prices that hit more than $4 a gallon in all 50 states for the first time this week. Republicans, the fossil fuel industry, and some moderate Democrats have disputed that argument and called the legislation ineffective.

The ...