CBS 4 News

(CBS4) FT. LAUDERDALE As we head into another summer, we can pretty much expect three things. It will be really, really hot and muggy. It will be really, really hot and muggy. And we’ll be paying a ‘pretty penny’ at the pump.

     For most, it will mean shorter drives or cutting back on summer vacation road trips. For others though, the rising price at the pump could mean the end of their business.

     U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ron Klein met with local business owners in Ft. Lauderdale Monday to discuss new legislation, which has already passed in the House, that will allow the federal trade commission to investigate and punish those caught artificially inflating the price of gas.

     The business owners, who represented the marine services, home service, and delivery service sectors, said every year it is becoming increasingly difficult to remain profitable in the face of steep gasoline price increases.

     They also pointed out over the past few years, oil companies have given several different explanations for price increases; from a shortage of oil being pumped out of the Middle East, refineries damaged along the gulf coast by Hurricane Katrina, to excessively high temperatures in the summer. As for our current price spike, the business owners said its unclear why its happening, all they know is that the big oil companies continue to make record profits, while American consumers and businesses continue to suffer at the pump.

     During their discussions, Klein and Wasserman-Schultz also talked about a long solution to the problem which would shift away from foreign oil and move to domestic production of alternative fuels.

Copyright 2007