Too much and not enough

You've heard of Oklahoma's "anti-gouging" law that punishes business owners who raise their prices "too high" during "emergencies". Well, here's a story in this morning's Oklahoman about a law that penalizes those who don't raise their prices enough:

The Oklahoma Unfair Sales Act was passed in 1949. It's designed to protect small businesses from the pricing advantages large chains have and hopefully prevent this scenario: retail giant rolls into town, sells goods super cheap, puts little guy out of business, then jacks up their prices.

The story focuses on how the law - which requires stores to sell items at least 6 percent above cost - has prevented Walmart from bringing special pricing to Oklahoma that it makes available elsewhere.

Just one more example of regulation Oklahoma can do without.