Democrats are pushing new tax-cut plans to ease voters' affordability worries and blunt Republicans' advantage on the issue. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland proposes ending federal income tax for many people earning about $46,000 or less. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker backs a plan that wipes out tax on the first $75,000 of income. Democrats say simple tax relief sells better than complicated credits. Critics warn these plans drain money for restoring funding for Medicaid and other priorities. Analysts also say benefits can tilt toward higher earners and add to deficits.

Oil and gasoline prices are rising as the war in Iran intensifies and other global conflicts affect supply. That means pain at the pump for drivers filling up with gas. But electric vehicle drivers are largely unaffected by spikes in oil prices. Electricity prices — even as different grids have different power mixes — are more regulated. Experts say prolonged high gas prices may drive some EV interest and sales. Car-buying resource Edmunds says it has seen an uptick in people researching EVs and hybrids. But the experts also say just how far that will go is unclear. And in the U.S., significant incentives to buy EVs have gone away.