- A top GOP senator fiercely criticized some ideas Democrats are floating to address high gas prices.
- Sen. John Thune called gas cards and stimulus checks a "gimmick."
- Democrats have few levers to pull to fight inflation.
Senate Republicans are pummeling Democrats for proposals some are floating to help Americans feeling the squeeze from higher gas prices.
"Clearly what this administration has concluded is that they can throw some gimmicks at this issue," Sen. John Thune said Tuesday at the weekly GOP press conference, noting that some Democratic ideas on the table include additional direct payments, gas cards, and suspending the gas tax.
"All steps that would make inflation worse," he said.
Other Republicans like Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming criticized the Biden administration for not prioritizing domestic oil production enough. He wants the White House to cut regulatory red tape and authorize new oil pipelines. Those steps would likely take years to result in more oil production without addressing the problem now.
Democrats are rushing to address high gas prices ahead of the November midterms. The average price per gallon nationwide stands at $4.24, according to AAA, dropping only $0.08 from a week ago. Part of the reason for the dip, the AAA said, is falling prices for crude oil.
Some Senate Democrats like Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts are proposing direct payments funded by a tax on very profitable and large oil companies. But it faces staunch resistance from Republicans who tend to be averse to tax hikes and direct aid.
Then three House Democrats unveiled a bill to issue $100 monthly direct payments while the average national gas price average was $4 per gallon or more.
With prices rising across the board for groceries, housing, furniture, and used cars on top of gasoline, experts say that Democrats have few options to provide immediate relief from inflation. Much of the problem stems from persistent labor shortages and supply chain bottlenecks that the pandemic caused. The war in Ukraine threatens to ensnare global supply chains even further, The Washington Post reported.
The White House has twice authorized the release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, most recently in early March. It's part of their effort to cut prices by freeing up more oil supplies onto energy markets.