Delegate Ward Armstrong calls for tougher price-gouging legislation

By Denice Thibodeau
Danville Register & Bee
Published: September 23, 2008

House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, has announced he will introduce tougher legislation in next year’s General Assembly aimed at policing price gouging by oil companies.

In a news conference Monday, which also was broadcast on YouTube, Armstrong said the Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act needs to include language that allows the investigation of oil companies “suspected of selling goods at unconscionable price in Virginia during a state of emergency.”

“I think everyone will be in favor of avoiding a repeat of what we went to with Ike,” Armstrong said, referring to the big jump in gas prices before Hurricane Ike hit Texas.

“These dramatic price increases occurred even as the price of oil dropped below $100 a barrel for the first time in weeks,” he said.

Armstrong said investigations into Virginia gas stations accused by the public of price gouging showed that most stations were blameless — they were charging the public what they were being charged by the oil companies.

He said there is no evidence to show price gouging by Virginia retailers or distributors.

“We ought to have the ability to investigate oil companies,” Armstrong said, adding that if retailers can be investigated, so should the oil companies.

The bill also will include language that will allow the Anti-Price Gouging Act to be triggered even if the state of emergency is not in Virginia. Armstrong said anytime the president declares a state of emergency in any state, it can affect the price of goods in Virginia.

“We didn’t get a sprinkle out of the deal (with Hurricane Ike),” he said, “but gas prices rose in my area by 40 or 50 cents right away.”

Armstrong said strengthening the bill won’t help with the situation Ike caused, but will put the state in a better position to respond to such emergencies next year.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.