Even if gas prices fall, consumers will continue to be gouged at the pump the only thing that we can be sure rises faster that the price of gasoline is the skyrocketing profits of oil companies.

High gas prices are eating away at consumer's disposal income and could lead to a further economic downturn, especially for those whose livelihood depend on gasoline and diesel fuel.

Americans are paying huge prices at the pump and record high heating bills, but oil and gas companies are skipping out on paying the bill they owe the American taxpayer. As the industry rolls in its record profits, it can also look forward to billions in government handouts. They have American taxpayers over a barrel.

The one thing people seem to forget is the more oil we have, the lower the price and the lower the profits the oil companies make.

The reason gas prices are so high is because the oil is in Texas and Oklahoma and all the dipsticks are in Washington.

Absent Rita, we should have seen gas prices continue to fall.