ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) hopes to wrap up an investigation soon into whether there is gas price-fixing at American oil refineries.

The Federal Trade Commission has been investigating since last year whether gas prices have been kept artificially high through manipulation of refining margins.

Now McCaskill and New York Democrat Charles Schumer are pushing to wrap up the probe as gas prices rise steeply nationwide.

The Democrats say that action could be taken to reduce prices if there is evidence refineries are keeping gas prices high without reason other than profit.

In St Joseph Friday morning retailers were offering self-service regular for $3.49 per gallon. In Kansas City, prices are nearly a dime higher at about $3.57 a gallon.

McCaskill said that in order to effectively confront rising gas prices, policy-makers must deal in reality, not rhetoric, releasing a fact sheet—available on her website, HERE —shedding light on the truth behind claims about domestic energy production, reliance on foreign oil, and huge tax giveaways provided to the biggest oil companies.

McCaskill on Friday listed what she called “myths” about high gas prices.  She also detailed specific actions she would take to combat rising gas prices. She called on the President to release oil from the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve. She also voiced support for two oil pipelines in the region, including the Keystone expansion and the Flanagan South Pipeline being built in Missouri.