WASHINGTON, D.C. –Representative Edward J. Markey, a senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement in response to today’s Federal Trade Commission report on price gouging.

“It doesn’t surprise me that the Bush Administration hasn’t found any evidence of price gouging at the gasoline pump.   The Bush Administration is uniquely handicapped when it comes to defending the public from price gouging because it doesn’t want to embarrass its friends in Big Oil.  Today’s report reveals what we already know, the Bush Administration protects its Big Oil friends.  In fact this Administration’s high-prices-are-good-for-you energy policy depends on leaving Big Oil alone to charge whatever Big Oil has decided to charge.  It is called “demand-and-supply” – Big Oil demands that consumers pay higher prices at the pump and consumers supply the cash.

For more information on Rep. Markey’s work on energy policy check out http://markey.house.gov/