Spotlight: Gasoline Fight Fizzles in Legislature

In a victory for major oil companies, the state Senate on Tuesday rejected two bills that supporters said would have cut gasoline prices by fueling more competition among service stations. Under one proposal, a franchised station could buy a franchiser’s brand of gasoline from any location. The other bill sought to monitor and limit the percentage of motor vehicle fuel sold through stations owned and operated by oil companies. The fight pitted oil companies against station owners and consumer groups.