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As the nation deals with rising gas prices -- one local lawmaker wants to make sure that Texans are paying fair prices at the pump.

State Representative Al Edwards of Houston says the sudden spike in gas prices leaves consumers vulnerable to cheating. He's concerned about the possibility of gouging at gas stations and wants to make sure station owners aren't taking advantage of drivers.

Edwards has filed a resolution asking the Texas Attorney General's office to investigate possible gouging and consumer fraud. But Dan Parsons, president of the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston says there are clear guidelines to define price gouging. The term refers to the artificial inflation of of prices for goods and service in a time of emergency, and he says that's not what's going on at the gas pumps.

Parsons says the evidence of this is apparent in the fact that there is competition between gas stations and discounts at groceries stores or by using certain credit cards are available. Edwards says he just wants to have a better understanding of why the prices jumped so quickly and what can be done to curb them. A spokesman in the Attorney General's office says he cannot comment on the pending legislation.