House Democrats are still debating the best avenue to address energy affordability and how deeply to wade into specific policy solutions ahead of the midterms.
A new House Democratic working group focused on solutions to high gasoline and utility prices convened its first listening session Thursday. The half dozen lawmakers who participated had a high-level discussion about voters’ concerns about energy costs, which have become a major vulnerability to President Donald Trump, members and aides said.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), who is leading the gas and utilities working group with Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), told POLITICO after the meeting that it’s unclear what the end product will look like, and if Democrats will actually release energy affordability legislation before the midterms.
She said that decision would be made later in the process by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who announced five working groups this week designed to broker consensus around lowering the cost of housing, gas and utilities, groceries and goods, caregiving and health care.
