{"id":22531,"date":"2026-03-16T12:11:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/?p=22531"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:11:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:11:45","slug":"dire-straits-for-midterms-gas-price-surge-troubles-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/?p=22531","title":{"rendered":"Dire Straits for Midterms? Gas Price Surge Troubles Senators"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Reading Time:<\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amid uncertainty in a vital global shipping lane brought on by\u00a0the conflict with Iran,\u00a0gas pump prices are way up.\n<\/p>\n

Some in Congress think that could be a problem for their constituents and for Republicans\u2019 chances in the midterms.<\/p>\n

Have you taken your place on the wall?<\/h4>\n

\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cNaturally, we\u2019re all really concerned,\u201d\u00a0Sen. Jim Justice,\u00a0R-W.Va., told The Daily Signal of the gas prices.\n<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Justice framed it as part of the cost of taking on Iran.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we\u2019ve got a big-time threat with Iran,\u201d Justice said. \u201cWhat are we going to do, just say, \u2018It\u2019s OK, you go on and do what you\u2019re going to do\u2019? We can\u2019t do that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt creates a pressure, but gas prices were a lot higher under [former President Joe] Biden,\u201d\u00a0Sen. Ron Johnson,\u00a0R-Wis., told The Daily Signal, adding, \u201cThis is at least [high] gas prices caused by a worthy goal.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Uncertainty<\/h2>\n

Gas prices have surged as Iran has attacked oil tankers attempting to transit\u00a0the Strait of Hormuz,\u00a0located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.\n<\/p>\n

According to the\u00a0International Energy Agency,\u00a0\u201caround 25% of the world\u2019s seaborne oil trade\u201d passes through the strait.\n<\/p>\n

As of Thursday, the average price per gallon of gas at the pump is $3.59 in the United States,\u00a0per AAA.\n<\/p>\n

One month ago, the average price was $2.94.\u00a0The highest recorded average price of regular unleaded gasoline was over five dollars in June 2022.\n<\/p>\n

In response, President Donald Trump is tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an underground emergency stockpile.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery day, enormous progress is made,\u201d says @SecretaryWright<\/a> on Operation Epic Fury.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re destroying their ability to threaten the United States troops in the region\u2026 and ultimately, to threaten energy markets.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/IGZwj2hsGT<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told The Daily Signal in a statement that Trump \u201cwill not allow the terrorist Iranian regime to threaten the American people or disrupt the global economy by stopping the free flow of energy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cPresident Trump has been clear that these are short-term disruptions and that Americans will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly again once the necessary objectives of Operation Epic Fury have been achieved and the regime\u2019s capabilities are neutralized.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Midterms<\/h2>\n

The gas prices have provoked some grumbling from Capitol Hill Republicans, especially ahead of midterm elections in which both sides are claiming to offer an \u201caffordable\u201d future for voters.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh oil prices will be a problem,\u201d\u00a0Sen. Rand Paul,\u00a0R-Ky., said of the midterms in a recent Fox News interview.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you add in high gas prices, high oil prices \u2026 if there\u2019s still kinetic action that causes oil to be over a hundred dollars [per barrel], I think you\u2019re going to see a disastrous election.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Rogers told The Daily Signal of the midterms, \u201cPresident Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican party, and he is committed to maintaining Republicans\u2019 majority in Congress to continue delivering wins for the American people.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Should Congress Intervene?<\/h2>\n

Sen. Josh Hawley,\u00a0R-Mo., who believes the United States military should \u201cwrap up\u201d soon in Iran, thinks Congress ought to intervene on behalf of consumers.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m concerned about gas prices. Of course, you know, the Congress, we could do something about that,\u201d he told The Daily Signal.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can suspend the gas tax, which is like 20 cents a gallon. That would account for a large portion of the increase over the last week.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Democrat Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut\u00a0have a bill\u00a0to institute a federal gas tax holiday, suspending the 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax until October.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cFamilies across Arizona are dealing with high costs on almost everything, and now gas prices are skyrocketing because Donald Trump started a war with Iran,\u201d Kelly said in a statement in support of bill.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cArizona families shouldn\u2019t pay the price for Donald Trump\u2019s bad decisions. Suspending the federal gas tax would help bring prices down.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Rand Paul: \u201cThe 2026 elections, already we are behind the 8 ball. If you add in high gas prices, high oil prices, and if we\u2019re still bombing Iran with kinetic action \u2014 people don\u2019t want to call it war \u2014 I think you\u2019re gonna see a disastrous election.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/lILcS0TUaa<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\u2014 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Johnson expressed openness to the idea but similarly indicated it would not be a silver bullet to undo the gas price hike.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be opposed to that,\u201d he told The Daily Signal. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to do a whole lot, because state taxes are a lot more onerous than federal taxes. I mean,\u00a0check with California.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Justice was similarly skeptical that a gas tax holiday would be of much help.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s like kissing your sister. I mean,\u00a0that\u2019s not going to really help, and that\u2019s not going to really do anything in life,\u201d he told The Daily Signal. \u201cThat\u2019s a Band-Aid for cancer.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Justice did not rule out supporting such a measure, but said if \u201cthe straits get blocked, we\u2019re just seeing the tip of the iceberg as for what\u2019s going to happen. This could go really high.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Voters \u201care really hurting,\u201d Justice added. \u201cWe should always be really compassionate.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we don\u2019t hear them, [it\u2019s a] mistake.\u00a0We\u2019ve got a midterm to consider.\u00a0It\u2019s right at our doorstep here.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Share your prayers for the midterms below.<\/h4>\n

This article was originally published at The Daily Signal. Photo Credit: sippakorn yamkasikorn on Unsplash.<\/em>
\n \n <\/p>\n