The American Cause

Senator Ben Nelson (D-Ne) plans to introduce a bill that sets up a commission charged with the task of finding the route of rising gas prices. Nelson says that he intends to find out whether the prices are based on the market or on opportunistic price gougers.

Nelson, the most conservative Democrat (at least according to voting record) in the Senate, plans to find out how the government can deal with the dilemma, and prevent it from having a detrimental effect on the economy.

How is price gouging determined? Are the laws preventing it unfair or unconstitutional?