Republicans fear they ‘haven’t done a damn thing’ to lower prices ahead of midterm reckoning
Senate Focus on College Sports Sparks Fears of Inaction on Cost‑of‑Living Issues Ahead of Midterms
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the U.S. Senate heads toward the final days of its term, Republicans are growing increasingly uneasy that the chamber’s recent legislative agenda has prioritized college sports over the rising cost of living—a key concern for voters heading to the 2024 midterm elections.
Senator Josh Hawley (R‑Mo.) said on Fox News Digital that, “there’s a lot of things we could be doing and should be doing,” and urged lawmakers to tackle “costs—be it for fuel, prescription drugs, health care or the financial burden of the artificial intelligence boom.” Hawley added that he hoped to address these issues before the Senate adjourns, noting that the “best bill ever passed” should focus on the economy rather than football.
The debate has intensified after the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, authored by Senator Ted Cruz (R‑Tex.) and approved late Monday night. The bipartisan measure, designed to regulate college athletics, has drawn criticism from Republicans who say it diverted attention from pressing economic concerns.
Senator John Kennedy (R‑La.) complained that the Senate “has been spending all week on trying to make the football coaches happy.” He warned that voters, “moms and dads out there across America,” are not worried about football contracts but about their own wallets. Kennedy and other GOP senators have urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑S.D.) to focus on affordability bills, including a proposal that would require artificial‑intelligence companies to shoulder higher utility costs generated by data centers.
“Because we haven’t done a damn thing,” Kennedy said, adding that the lack of action is “biting us in the ass right now.” The AI‑related bill, introduced by Senator Jon Husted (R‑Ohio), is expected to be blocked by Democrats, who view it as a Republican victory that could be leveraged near the election.
Republican leadership has highlighted last year’s “big, beautiful bill” as a flagship achievement aimed at affordability. The measure has been repeatedly referenced in Senate speeches and was a central theme of the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas earlier this month. Yet some GOP lawmakers feel that the focus on college sports represents a “sticking point” for voters who want more tangible economic relief.
Senator Thom Tillis (R‑N.C.) echoed concerns about the Senate’s priorities. He recalled the moment he became speaker of the North Carolina House and emphasized the need for leaders to “own the issue” once they are elected. “That’s how you actually show some leadership and get it done,” Tillis told Fox News Digital. He cautioned that Republicans can’t “rationalize” their inaction as a consequence of a prior administration.
The Senate’s schedule will soon shift from Washington to the campaign trail. The chamber is expected to leave the capital on Wednesday to allow members to focus on the “homestretch” of the approaching midterm elections. As the election draws near, GOP officials, including Vice President Dan Crenshaw’s aide JD Vance, have urged voters to “give us another chance,” a plea that Senator Tillis acknowledged might be “a first.”
While the Senate has secured a new rulebook for college athletes and schools, the growing frustration among Republicans that lawmakers have not addressed the rising cost of living highlights a key election issue. As November 3 approaches, both parties will be scrutinizing how well Washington’s legislative priorities align with the economic concerns of voters across the country.