Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Newsmax that Democratic control of Congress would raise gasoline prices and taxes, urging voters to back Republicans to reduce household costs. She acknowledged prices remain high under current government control and pointed to inflation and energy tensions — including the Iran conflict — as key pressures. Blackburn reiterated proposals for automatic departmental budget cuts of 1%, 2% or 5%, highlighted a roughly $2 trillion deficit in the first 11 months of fiscal 2026 per the CBO, and suggested reexamining the Senate filibuster to enable spending reductions.
Blackburn Says Democratic Control Would Raise Gas Prices and Taxes — Urges Voters to Back Republicans on Cost of Living
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 19, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), vice chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Newsmax on Monday that Democratic control of Congress would push gasoline prices and taxes higher and urged voters concerned about household affordability to support Republican candidates.
What Blackburn Said
Speaking on Rob Schmitt Tonight, Blackburn framed the cost of living as the dominant concern for voters and argued that Republican control offers the better route to lower prices and lower taxes. She said elected officials must convince Americans that GOP policies will improve affordability at the pump and across household expenses.
Everywhere we go, cost of living is the number one issue that is talked about.
Blackburn added that voters who want lower prices and lower taxes should support Republican candidates, asserting that Democratic policies would increase gasoline and diesel costs as well as taxes.
Economic Context
Blackburn's remarks come as inflation and energy prices remain a political concern. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% in the 12 months through August. Energy was a notable driver: gasoline prices increased 3.9% in August and were 27.4% higher than a year earlier, a rise that analysts link in part to tensions involving Iran and disruptions to oil flows.
Oil prices rose again on Monday amid fading hopes for an imminent U.S.-Iran agreement that could ease pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.
Spending, Deficit Concerns and the Filibuster
Host Rob Schmitt also challenged Blackburn on federal spending, noting Republicans currently hold congressional majorities. Blackburn said she has repeatedly proposed automatic across-the-board budget cuts for federal departments — suggesting reductions of 1%, 2% or 5% — but that such measures have not gained sufficient support.
There's never enough support for that. It never happens.
She warned that sustained federal borrowing places an unfair burden on younger generations. The Congressional Budget Office estimated earlier this month that the government recorded roughly a $2 trillion deficit during the first 11 months of fiscal 2026, about the same as the prior year.
Our kids and our grandkids, you know, passing this kind of debt on to them is just immoral.
To make future spending reductions easier to pass when Republicans control the Senate, Blackburn suggested the party may need to reconsider the legislative filibuster, noting that the current 60-vote threshold often blocks proposals aimed at cutting spending.
Additional Notes
Blackburn predicted gasoline prices could fall if the dispute with Iran is resolved, and referenced President Donald Trump's stated goal of getting gasoline prices into the $1.75–$2.00-per-gallon range. The interview reflects how energy, inflation and fiscal policy remain central themes as parties court voters ahead of the November midterms.
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