[NYP] Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stunned a Republican member of Congress Tuesday by asking him to help subsidize electric vehicle purchases while millions of Americans struggle to fill up their gas-powered cars."The more pain we are all experiencing from the high price of gas, ​the more benefit there is for those who can access electric vehicles," Buttigieg told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — just before asking Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) to "reconsider opposing the reduction of EV upfront prices with tax credits."
"So you’re saying the more pain we have, the more benefit we’re going to get?" a flabbergasted Gimenez asked Buttigieg.
"Of course — no," Buttigieg chuckled as Gimenez said: "I think that’s what I heard you say."
"No, no," the laughing transportation secretary insisted. "That’s what you heard me say?"
"Yeah, that’s what I heard you say," the lawmaker insisted.
"I know you want me to say it so bad," Buttigieg responded. "Honestly, sir, what we’re saying is that we could have no pain at all by making EVs cheaper for everybody, and we’d love to have your support on that."