Nessel and Democratic lawmakers talk bills to curb price gouging

(Michigan Advance) Back in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — when little was known about how the virus was spread, how long it would be around or how many Michiganders would get sick — some businesses took to price gouging essential items.

“.. [J]just because they could,” Michigan state Sen. Jeremey Moss (D-Southfield) said. “… just because they knew that if you needed lumber, if you needed food, if you needed housing during a crisis, this was their time to swoop in and profit off of human misery.”

And there was very little in Michigan state law to protect against face masks being sold for $20 a piece or selling toilet paper for $60 a case until Michigan’s Governor issued a temporary executive order placing restrictions and penalties on price gouging.

Now Moss, alongside other Democratic lawmakers and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, are voicing their interest in implementing laws that restrict inflating prices during states of emergency. According to the group, which held a news conference on Tuesday, 34 states have some form of legislation dealing with price gouging during a state of emergency. .................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/2024/09/11/nessel-and-democratic-lawmakers-talk-bills-to-curb-price-gouging/