Sen. Mark Kelly wants White House to look into Arizona’s soaring gas prices
Nov 18, 2021, 10:00 AM
(Rod Lamkey/Pool via AP)
(Rod Lamkey/Pool via AP)
PHOENIX – The rapid rise of gas prices in Arizona is a concern to Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and he wants the White House to do something about it.
“We’re asking them to look at it. … This is really hurting families across our state,” Kelly told KTAR News 92.3’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday.
Costs for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the state is averaging $3.72 as of Thursday, according to AAA. The national average is $3.41.
“We’ve got to get the administration to do something about this. It’s too expensive for Arizona families,” Kelly said.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday he has asked the Federal Trade Commission to monitor gasoline prices and address any illegal conduct being observed and is engaging with countries and entities abroad like OPEC on increasing supply.
The president also sent a letter asking the FTC chair to consider investigating “whether illegal conduct is costing families at the pump.”
The letter noted an “unexplained” gap in the price of unfinished gasoline and prices for consumers at the pump.
Kelly said a possible solution was to increase domestic production of crude oil.
“That’s one thing that lowers the price. It takes about 30 days once production of crude increases for the price of gasoline to come down,” he said.
“We want the prices to come down.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
