King at SCSU Scholars merely exclaims "Why, the Cads." I say, "Get out the tar and feathers, boys. Put 'em on the rack and then, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
I should not ever pay too little for gas. There otter be a law! Some big bad gas station might put a gas station in Le Center out of business. We don't want that now, do we?
Unfortunately, there is and big bad Midwest Oil, harrumph, has run afoul of it by not charging at least the mandatory 8 cents per gallon more than its cost for gas.
The state Commerce Department is accusing Midwest Oil of Minnesota of more than 160 violations of a state law that requires stations to charge at least 8 cents more per gallon than they pay. Midwest Oil faces a potential fine of up to $1.6 million.
Midwest Oil, based in Shawano, Wis., owns three gas stations in Minnesota: Oakdale Exxon, Anoka Exxon and Budget-Mart Mobil in Albert Lea, and owns stations in Wisconsin. Company attorney Rebekah Brown did not immediately return a phone message on Tuesday.
The department alleges that its investigators repeatedly bought gasoline below minimum prices at all three stations and that Midwest Oil failed to fully comply with subpoenas requesting documents.
A Minnesota law bars retailers from selling gasoline below cost. That amounts to at least 8 cents above the total of wholesale prices, plus taxes and fees. For instance, Commerce said the minimum price on March 25 was $2.05 per gallon, but Commerce said it paid $1.96 at Midwest Oil's Anoka station. Two days later, with the minimum still at $2.05 a gallon, Commerce said it paid $1.98.
I wish I could enact a law against stupidity. Those who pushed the minimum gas price law would be near or at the top of my list.