Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on federal officials to find out why gas prices are still high following two destructive hurricanes, The Hill reported.
Schumer asked the Federal Trade Commission to determine whether gasoline price gouging is responsible for the high prices following hurricanes Harvey and Irma, according to the website.
Harvey slammed an oil production and refining center in the Gulf of Mexico and was responsible for an immediate spike in prices.
"Gas prices should come back down to earth just as fast as they went up, but right now, my worry is they will not fall as fast as they should," Schumer said. "That is why I am asking the FTC to launch a 'gouge watch' with oil producers, transporters and refiners alike."
Schumer said he wants to make certain "big oil" isn't taking advantage of motorists at the pump in the aftermath of the storms, The New York Post reported.
"The only thing that makes a devastating natural disaster worse is the idea that big oil could be making a buck off of the mess and hosing consumers, even after the storm has passed us by and the recovery has begun."
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