New Canaan's Tom O'Dea Supports Anti-Price Gouging Bill

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — New Canaan and Wilton State Rep. Tom O’Dea voted for a bill that would protect consumers from price gouging during significant weather events in a Judiciary Committee meeting.

State Rep. Tom O'Dea, R-New Canaan, Wilton, supported a bill that would prevent price gouging on services during weather emergencies.
Photo Credit: *File Photo*

by Anthony Buzzeo

05/08/2013 3:00 p.m.

The bill, Senate Bill 320, “An Act Prohibiting Price Gouging During Severe Weather Events” is designed to extend the bar on excessive prices on goods and services during severe weather event, when the governor proclaims a weather emergency, a release from O’Dea’s office said. The current law prevents the increased price of goods, but not services during a weather emergency, the release said.

“New Canaan and Wilton residents were gouged significantly by some dishonest businesses during the past few major storms. Some companies quoted residents extremely high prices for tree removal or roof snow removal following a storm, taking advantage of their situation. This bill protects homeowners from this type of price-gouging and is a consumer-friendly bill with broad, bipartisan support,” O’Dea, R-125, said in the release.

The bill will now go to the State Senate and then to the State House of Representatives for full floor debates.

Click here to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.