McCaskill's Gas Pump Mandate

From the Associated Press Tuesday:

OVERLAND, Mo. (AP) - Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill proposed a new government mandate for gasoline pumps Tuesday that would allow the volume of fuel flowing into vehicles to automatically adjust with the temperature.

Republican Sen. Jim Talent suggested he, too, would be open to such a proposal -- but only if it would not cost motorists more than they stand to gain.

AP uber-reporter David Lieb wraps it up this way:

If she wins the Nov. 7 senatorial election, McCaskill said she would pursue a federal requirement that all newly installed gasoline pumps be equipped with temperature sensors that can adjust fuel volumes accordingly. McCaskill said the government should also look at a phased-in retrofitting of existing pumps in a manner "that wouldn't be too onerous." But the cost of the changes should not fall on taxpayers, she said.

"It's up to the oil companies to pay for it," McCaskill said. "We are not going to give them incentives, we are not going to give them tax breaks. We are going to make them use three or four days worth of profits to get it done."

Talent spokesman Rich Chrismer said McCaskill has opposed other measures that Talent believes would reduce the price of gasoline, such as drilling for more oil in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. But Talent also would consider government involvement in fuel pump adjustments, he said.

"Anything that unfairly raises prices for consumers is a problem, whether its price gouging by the oil companies or hot fuel," Chrismer said. "Sen. Talent has sponsored legislation to help stop price gouging and he is open to solutions to fix the hot fuel problem that don't end up costing consumers more they stand to gain."