The governor says the attorney general’s office has received more than 260 price gouging complaints this year and while activating the gouging laws might only have a minimal effect, Beshear says – with prices this high – every protection is worth it.
"I'm willing to do what it takes to provide relief, even if it's minimal. So today, I'm taking this action because I believe strongly that even minimal relief is better than no relief."Gov. Andy Beshear
Beshear said, in a recent meeting with governors, former Federal Reserve head Ben Bernanke pinned most of the blame for the skyrocketing gas prices on US efforts to prevent European allies from having purchase Russian fuel amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. And that means major relief at the pump could be a ways off.
"Part of what we're seeing right now is not likely to subside until that war is, hopefully, ending, or nearing its end," Beshear continued. "We've got to understand that stopping a dictator always takes sacrifice. We're not being asked to send our sons and daughters. We are being asked to endure some economic hardship."
In addition, the governor re-upped a 30-day state of emergency surrounding baby formula. That action also activated laws aimed at stopping any would-be price-gougers.
"It's something that's still far too hard to get and it's critical that we have these protections in place," the governor added.
Violators found guilty of price gouging can face significant damages.
