California lawmakers accusing oil companies of exploiting the Iran war to gouge drivers are now backing a bill that would allow the state to crack down under its emergency price-gouging laws. The Wartime Price Gouging Prevention Act (SB 493) — co-authored by Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) — would add “war” to California’s price-gouging statute, which already limits sharp price hikes during declared emergencies such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, riots, storms, droughts and pandemics.