Vulnerable House Democrats now support lowering gas prices after backing policies to raise them

Politically vulnerable Democrats who once supported policies that would have raised gas prices are now singing a different tune ahead of the November midterm elections.

Democratic Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Dan Kildee of Michigan, Dina Titus of Nevada, and Kim Schrier of Washington state, who all face tough re-election battles in their districts, have cosponsored the Gas Prices Relief Act of 2022, which would suspend the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal tax through the midterms and the rest of 2022.

Those same lawmakers, however, previously supported policies that would have raised gas prices.

In 2018, Slotkin said she would "immediately" shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline in Michigan, which moves crude oil and other petroleum products from western Canada. Shutting down the pipeline, an effort led by Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, would cost Midwest families and businesses an extra $23.7 billion for gasoline and diesel in the first five years, according to Consumer Energy Alliance.