Buttigieg Says High Gas Prices Are Good, Quickly Regrets It

The pain from high gas costs, according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, has increased the appeal of electric car owners. Then he tried to claim that he hadn’t said it.

This week, Buttigieg made the statement in his testimony to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. When asked about the effectiveness of electric vehicles by Republican Rep. Carlos Giménez of Florida, he stated:

“You would agree that when the price of gasoline goes up, it takes you less time to reach parity?” asked Giménez.

“Of course, the greater pain we are all suffering from high gas costs, the more benefit there is for those who can utilize electric vehicles. That is why we are hoping you and your coworkers will reconsider opposing the decrease of EV upfront prices and tax credits.”

“So you’re saying that the more suffering we have, the better it will work for us?” said Giménez.

“No!” Buttigieg responded, breaking into a nervous laugh. “That’s what you heard me say? I understand how important it is for me to say it, but honestly, what we’re saying is that if we could make EVs more affordable for everyone, we’d be ecstatic to have your help on that.”

Giménez emphasized the idea by retweeting Buttigieg’s statement on video from his official social media account.

“The Biden Administration’s full-spectrum attack on America’s energy sector has one aim: to force electric automobiles upon the public by hurting your wallet and paychecks,” he wrote. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg told me himself in today’s T&I hearing.

Buttigieg was questioned on his comments that customers may buy an electric automobile in order to avoid high gas costs.