Bush says consumers won't be gouged on gas after Ike

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal and state officials will make sure consumers don't get gouged by gas price increases in the wake of Hurricane Ike, President Bush said Saturday.

President Bush makes remarks Saturday about Hurricane Ike at the White House.

A large number of refineries shut down on the Gulf Coast ahead of the storm, pushing prices up in some regions.

In a brief televised statement, Bush said the Environmental Protection Agency waivers on certain reformulated gasolines were suspended Friday night to make it easier for imports to get into U.S. markets.

"In the meantime, the Department of Energy, the Federal Trade Commission and, I know, the state authorities will be monitoring the gasoline prices to make sure consumers are not being gouged," the president added.

Source: cnn.com via master_jim2008

The only reason he's trying to show he cares this time is to try to make the people think that the Republican party is going to care more this time around if we elect John McCain.

He said that additional generators were being moved into areas without electricity and that other concerns such as water and ice were being addressed.

Source: cnn.com via master_jim2008

Will it take 5 days to get water in like during Katrina? Will the response to the hurricane be as much of a slap in the face of America this time around as it was during Katrina?

Bush said he had asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to travel to Texas to review the federal response to Ike. Chertoff was to arrive in Texas on Saturday evening. Watch as Bush says his administration is moving to act quickly »

"There's going to be a need for federal, state and local coordination as this storm moves through east Texas," the president said.

Gas prices rose for the fourth straight day as Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas Gulf Coast early Saturday.

Source: cnn.com via master_jim2008

This wouldn't happen if the strategic patrolium reserves were used for their intended purpose, EMERGENCIES.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush Saturday said officials will ensure gasoline stations don't gouge customers after Hurricane Ike, but with some prices near $5 a gallon, some consumers were not so sure.

Regular gasoline was at $4.99 per gallon Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee, iReporter Sean Kennedy says.

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Dozens of iReport.com users complained of rising gasoline prices Friday and Saturday. Sean Kennedy, of Knoxville, Tennessee, took a photo of a Knoxville station displaying a $4.99 per gallon price for regular gasoline on Saturday.

The previous day, he said, he had bought regular gas at the station for $3.59 a gallon.

"I know the hurricane is causing a spike, but ... [nearly] $1.50 in 24 hours?" Kennedy said.

Other stations in the area, he said, were offering prices at or near $4.99 on Saturday. iReport.com: Send photos of gas prices

"I was just appalled to see it go up that much in 24 hours," he said.

In Cumming, Georgia, iReporter Jeffrey Brock took a picture of a gas station sign with a $5.20-per-gallon price on Friday, the day before Ike slammed the Texas Gulf Coast.

"Most other stations in the area are not charging this much," he wrote to iReport.com.

Gas prices rose across the country amid fears the storm would disrupt fuel supplies. The region hit by Ike is home to about 25 percent of U.S. oil refining capacity, a large percentage of which shut down ahead of the storm.

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Tags: Environment