Dems Want Investigation of California Gas Prices

Don't seem to realize jump due to state's environmental restrictions, not price-gouging

A powerful House Democrat wants the Federal Trade Commission to find out if market manipulation is boosting California gasoline prices, which soared a half-dollar per gallon in the last week.

Tuesday's letter from Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) to the FTC boosts political pressure on regulators to probe prices that, according to AAA, jumped 49 cents in a week to a current average of $4.67-per-gallon for regular gasoline.