Rising gas prices and no clear end to the Iran war are clashing with GOP plans to win the November elections on a message of affordability.
Republican US House lawmakers have gathered in Miami this week to craft a legislative agenda and midterm message highlighting lower prices and new tax breaks.
Some lawmakers at the gathering acknowledged the increase in gas prices — more than 60 cents more than a month ago. according to aaa – Sad, but he said he remains confident in President Donald Trump’s promise that the conflict in Iran will soon end and gas prices will return.
In the morning after Trump reassured both lawmakers and the market that the war is ahead of schedule and will be over soon, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the war is “almost over” and that “gas prices will readjust after that.”
“The Strait of Hormuz has been closed by the regime there, but it will be reopened, and it will take a few weeks, but gas prices will come back up,” Johnson told reporters at the GOP retreat.
Several lawmakers said they hoped the war would end in the coming weeks and gas prices would drop, sparing them political headaches closer to Election Day in November.
But other members expressed concern privately that the impact of gas prices and uncertainty over the war could overshadow any policy-focused agenda. With three seats vacant, Republicans control the House by a slim margin of 218-214. Seat Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. The special election for is on Tuesday.
“Is the motive clear? Are other allies involved? What will happen to energy prices? We don’t have answers to all the relevant questions yet,” said a GOP lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protest the party line. The Strait of Hormuz needs to be “reopened”.
A second GOP lawmaker, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said high gas prices are “a problem” but added that “hopefully they’ll come back down by Election Day.”
Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said high gas prices must be addressed, noting he already pays more at the pump.
“We are absolutely seeing short-term surges. And those are worrisome,” he said in a brief interview at House Republicans.
Guthrie said Republicans should make the case for why the strikes on Iran were needed in the first place, which he defined as preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and striking the US and its allies first.
“I think people need to understand why that is,” Guthrie said. “We need to explain why (Trump) is doing what he’s doing in Iran. And I know he’s talked about it, but I think it needs to continue, because people need to continue to listen.”
The war remains politically unpopular, with numerous polls showing that a majority of Americans do not support the war. About this 29% American According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, most people approve of war in Iran and a majority expect gas prices to continue rising.
Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., said he has heard from constituents concerned about the surge in oil prices. Responding to this, he said that after coming under the leadership of the new government in Iran, the impact of pain on prices will reduce.
“I compare it to road repairs. It’s always a pain when there are road repairs, especially on the road to your house, with traffic congestion and whatnot,” he said. “But the day comes when they drop the cones and whatnot, and it becomes smoother and easier and wider and safer, and that’s what’s happening.”