Top state leaders met for an hour today and agreed to try to find a way to reduce gas prices at Iowa pumps. Governor Tom Vilsack and legislators plan to explore ideas like giving consumers a rebate at the pump. Simply suspending the 20 cents per gallon state gas tax might not trickle down to consumers, as gas taxes aren’t collected by local gas stations. Gas taxes are submitted to the state by the owner of the gas as it leaves the pipeline terminal. On July 5th, the Governor and legislators will meet again to discuss their options. Vilsack expects state action on the issue in July in a one-day “special session” of the legislature to endorse whatever idea the group devises. Vilsack says doing nothing is not an alternative. Vilsack and G.O.P. legislators are urging Iowa’s Attorney General to do whatever he can to investigate whether big oil is gouging consumers. House Republican Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City says pump prices in Colorado are 40 cents lower than they are in Iowa, and that doesn’t make sense.
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