Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association

11/26/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from LOMCSA!

11/13/2025

Energy Marketers of America Raises Alarm Over Visa and Mastercard’s Proposed Settlement on Swipe Fees

Washington, D.C., November 10, 2025 – Today, the Energy Marketers of America (EMA) expressed deep concern over the reported terms of a new proposed settlement between Visa, Mastercard, and U.S. retailers, calling it “insufficient relief in the face of years of unchecked fee increases.” The Wall Street Journal broke the story.

The settlement, filed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, comes nearly 20 years after the original antitrust lawsuit was launched and follows the rejection of a prior $30 billion agreement in 2024. While it includes a modest 0.1% (10 basis point) reduction in interchange fees for five years and new flexibility for retailers to decline high-fee rewards cards, EMA warns the deal falls far short of delivering meaningful, long-term relief.“

Swipe fees have exploded in recent years—reaching $111 billion in 2024 alone—while this settlement offers only temporary, minimal relief,” said Rob Underwood, President of Energy Marketers of America. “The devil is in the details, and the proposed settlement raises more questions than answers. Energy marketers cannot afford another hollow compromise.”

Key concerns include:

Minimal Fee Reduction: A 0.1% cut for just five years does not offset the 70% surge in swipe fees since the pandemic, leaving fuel retailers—who operate on razor-thin margins—without sustainable relief.

Rewards Card Loophole Risk: While retailers may decline entire categories of cards, it remains unclear whether accepting one rewards card would require accepting all—potentially allowing Visa and Mastercard to reclassify non-rewards cards with token rewards to preserve high fees.

Consumer and Sales Impact: With 70% of transactions involving rewards cards, refusing them could drive customers to competitors, forcing retailers into an untenable choice between profitability and customer loyalty.
EMA supports fair competition and transparency in payment processing but urges the court to demand stronger, permanent safeguards before approving any agreement.“

America’s energy marketers deserve a settlement that reflects the true cost burden they’ve endured—not one that protects network profits at the expense of Main Street businesses,” Underwood added. EMA will continue monitoring developments as the proposed settlement moves toward judicial review.

11/11/2025

09/25/2025

Ford to Cut Another 1,000 Jobs in Germany as EV Demand Continues to Stutter
Ford plans to cut a further 1,000 jobs in Germany as it seeks deeper cost savings to offset weak demand for electric vehicles in Europe.
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The plan comes on top of previously announced layoffs and means Ford's 28,000-strong European workforce will be slashed by around 18%.

09/23/2025

Interesting - New Studies Have Found Ni****ne to help with neurodegenerative diseases and reducing inflammation.

FDA To Fast-Track Ni****ne Pouch Reviews Amid White House Pressure
According to meeting transcripts reviewed by Reuters, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to fast-track reviews of four to***co firms' ni****ne pouches in a pilot program launching on Monday, amid pressure from the Trump administration to speed up approvals.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to fast-track reviews of four to***co firms' ni****ne pouches in a pilot program launching on Monday, amid pressure from the Trump administration to speed up approvals, according to meeting transcripts seen by Reuters.

08/18/2025

U.S. Crude Production to Hit Record 13.41 Million BPD in 2025
U.S. crude production will hit a record 13.41 million barrels per day in 2025 due to increases in well productivity, though lower oil prices will prompt a fall in output in 2026, the Energy Information Administration forecasted last week in a monthly report.
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U.S. crude production will hit a record 13.41 million barrels per day in 2025 due to increases in well productivity, though lower oil prices will prompt a fall in output in 2026, the Energy Information Administration forecasted on Tuesday in a monthly report.

08/15/2025

Energy Marketers Warn of Fuel Disruptions and Price Spikes from California Refinery Shutdowns
The Energy Marketers of America (EMA) today issued an urgent alert regarding significant risks to motor fuel supplies and consumer access across the West Coast, stemming from the planned closures of two major California refineries.
Read the Letter Here:

08/07/2025

EPA Moves to Repeal Landmark ‘Endangerment Finding’ That Allows
Climate Regulation
The proposed rule would rescind a 2009 declaration that determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Repealing the finding “will be the largest deregulatory action in the history of America,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said last week.
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President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed revoking a scientific finding that's long been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

07/29/2025

EPA Cutting Workforce by 23%, Closing Research Division
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is cutting the size of its workforce by at least 23% and closing its scientific research office as part of President Donald Trump's broad effort to downsize the federal government.
Read The Letter Here:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it is cutting the size of its workforce by at least 23% and closing its scientific research office as part of President Donald Trump's broad effort to downsize the federal government.