Republicans slam Debbie Stabenow for comments on electric vehicles, gas prices

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow speaks at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts as part of the opening of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Monday, May 2, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)
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Republicans are calling U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., “out of touch” for recent comments about how she’s no longer subjected to high gas prices now that she owns an electric vehicle.

A video of her comments at Tuesday’s Senate Finance Committee meeting has more than 1.7 million views on Twitter, posted via the Republican National Committee.

“I just have to say, on the issue of gas prices, after waiting for a long time to have enough chips in this country to get my electric vehicle, I drove it from Michigan to (Washington, D.C.) this last weekend and went by every single gas station and it didn’t matter how high it was,” Stabenow said. “So I’m looking forward to moving to vehicles that aren’t going to be dependent on the whims of the oil companies and the international markets.”

Stabenow made similar comments at last week’s Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan, hinting at the gesture she gives gas stations when she drives by.

“As somebody who just bought my first electric vehicle, I’m driving by the pump,” Stabenow said. “And I won’t tell you the motion I’m making when I drive by.”

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Gas prices on Wednesday in Michigan average $5.21 per gallon, per AAA, which is 51 cents higher than last week and $2.20 higher than a year ago. Gas prices and inflation are among the top issues for Michigan voters, according to a May survey.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Penn., was one of the Republicans to critique Stabenow online. He says the median income of his constituents is less than the price of a new electric vehicle – saying the average is $60,000. Kelley Blue Book puts the average new electric vehicle price at just over $56,000.

“Democrats don’t understand the problems of everyday Americans,” Kelley said.

Not all electric vehicles are that pricey. Stabenow drives a Chevrolet Bolt EUV, which will have a starting price of about $28,000 for the 2023 model, per Green Car Reports. They’re assembled in Lake Orion.

Michigan Republican Party spokesperson Gustavo Portela called out Stabenow as well, using the hashtag “#OutOfTouch.”

Stabenow will “never apologize” for driving a Michigan-made vehicle, said Robyn Bryan, Stabenow’s spokesperson. The right-wing critics owe the auto workers an apology “for disrespecting the products they work hard to make,” she added.

“Instead of helping the oil companies line their pockets with Michigan drivers’ hard earned money, these critics should join the senator’s fight to end price gouging at the pump,” Bryan said.

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