AG Raoul pursues coronavirus price gouging
Gov. Pritzker arms Raoul with executive order ‘that prohibits price gouging and gives the attorney general enforcement authority’
Armed with an executive order from the governor, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is cracking down on price gouging on critical items needed to quell the coronavirus outbreak. (Blue Room Stream)
By Ted Cox
Armed with a new executive order issued by the governor, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is pursuing those who seek to profit from the need for materials to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
Gov. Pritzer issued an order Monday “that prohibits price gouging and gives the attorney general enforcement authority,” according to a news release put out Tuesday by Raoul’s office.
“Now more than ever, it is crucial to put people before profits, and I will not hesitate to use my office’s authority to take decisive action against those that deliberately raise the prices of items that are crucial to stopping the spread of the coronavirus,” Raoul said in a statement. “I am committed to collaborating with partners in law enforcement and retail to ensure that businesses do not seize upon this crisis to make money.
“Price gouging will not be tolerated,” he added, “and I will use all tools at my office’s disposal to hold accountable anyone whose pricing prevents Illinois residents from purchasing necessities that can save the lives of our most vulnerable residents by stopping the spread of the coronavirus.”
According to the release, the Office of the Attorney General “has received more than 100 complaints over the last few days from individuals about what they believe is price gouging on items tied to the epidemic, such as hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, face masks, and disinfectant sprays. Attorney General Raoul is directing businesses to maintain fair pricing, particularly on items public health agencies are recommending people use to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
Raoul “is currently prioritizing enforcement action for price gouging on essential medical supplies, such as protective gear, and other items identified in the governor’s executive order,” and is working in tandem with local county state’s attorneys. He’s also put the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association on notice “to ensure that businesses do not inhibit efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus by exorbitantly raising prices on items people need in order to avoid contracting COVID-19.”
Raoul encouraged citizens to report unfair pricing and other unfair business practices connected to the COVID-19 outbreak by visiting the attorney general’s website.
It’s not limited to Illinois, because, as Raoul said at the governor’s daily coronavirus brief on Tuesday, his office is also monitoring online retail firms like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook for mercenary price hikes.
At the Tuesday news briefing, he also advised all Illinois residents against hoarding households items of any kind, saying, “I want to implore people to to act as one Illinois.”