Gov. creates new crime victim advocate, investigates gas prices

Gov. Schwarzenegger today created the position of Crime Victim Advocate by executive order. Read the order here. And tomorrow Schwarzenegger is expected to appear with the father of Jessica Lunsford, the Florida rape and murder victim whose death has spawned the Jessica's law movement. The governor also sent a letter today to California Energy Commission Chairman Joe Desmond to investigate the rising prices of gas in the state. What concerns me the most is that there seems to be no relief in sight. Gasoline prices are approaching all time highs, yet we are months away from the summer months. Just last week, the California Energy Commission reported in its Petroleum Watch, that, "On April 10, 2006, the average statewide retail price for regular-grade gasoline rose for the sixth consecutive week to $2.81 a gallon, almost 7 cents more than last week and 37 cents greater than February 27, 2006.... I therefore call on the commission to immediately investigate the prices of gasoline, with particular emphasis on retail gasoline prices and any significant changes in prices charged by the petroleum industry gasoline sold in California and the reasons for those changes. Additionally, you should investigate these issues as they relate to the wholesale market. Should you find instances of market manipulation, price gouging or unfair business practices, I instruct you to report this to me and turn the evidence over to the California Attorney General without hesitation. I also direct you and your commission to conduct a thorough investigation of the profits, both before and after taxes, of the industry as a whole and of major firms within it, including a comparison with other major industry groups and major firms within them as to profits, return on equity and capital, and price-earnings ratio.