Grassley wants government to loosen up oil producing countries

Iowa gasoline prices took their biggest jump in the last month since August of 1990, before the Gulf War began. Iowans are now paying a dollar-38 on average per gallon, an increase of 17 cents from last month and 48 cents higher than February a year ago. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U-S should threaten to cut off its financial support to oil-producing nations.Grassley is appealing to the U-S Energy Secretary and to President Clinton to take steps that would put the squeeze on OPEC nations. He says if the leaders of those nations were American C-E-O’s, they’d be in prison for breaking anti-trust laws. Grassley says nations like Saudi Arabia shouldn’t be allowed into the World Trade Organization if they want to continue cartels.Diesel prices in Iowa are averaging a dollar-45. That’s 12 cents over last month and 43 cents higher than a year ago.