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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" independentgroup______________________________/674f313b39547ad3df2a6ef0c22c8fb7.jpg\\") ![](\\" independentgroup______________________________/eca5f7f6599d328c555a5f4d0eaeaf4c.jpg\\") Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce stated on March 7, 2022 in TV ad: Says Gov. Tony Evers \"tried to make us pay even more at the pump by hiking the gas tax.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" half-true/6479cbc723379f0ee49c269b0b9790b7.jpg.\\") ![\\"half- true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * Gas Prices * Transportation * Taxes * Wisconsin * Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce ![\\"Gasoline](\\" Gasoline prices are posted at a Mobil gas station following Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine, in West Hollywood, Calif. (AP) By D.L. Davis April 1, 2022 # Ad claiming Evers tried to ‘make us pay even more at the pump’ is running on half tank #### If Your Time is short * A proposal from Evers, which was ultimately rejected by Republican lawmakers, would have increased the gas tax by 8-cents per gallon and indexed future increases to inflation. * At the same time, the governor pushed to end the state’s \"minimum markup law\" on gasoline. * Evers officials argued that would create a net savings for drivers. * But there is debate about whether there would be long-term savings from such a change, since other factors play important roles in pricing. See the sources for this fact-check Drivers are taking a hit to the wallet as world events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are causing crude oil prices to increase, sending gasoline prices to record-breaking levels. During the week of March 7, 2022, the average national gas price hit $4.104 per gallon according to GasBuddy.com. The previous all-time high was set in 2008 at $4.103 per gallon. Since then, prices have nudged downward, with GasBuddy reporting $3.69 to $3.79 per gallon in Milwaukee, Franklin, Wauwatosa and Waukesha and $3.85 in Lannon on April 1. In the midst of that, an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the WMC Issues Mobilization Council – released a TV ad that slammed Gov. Tony Evers’ economic record. Among the claims in the ad: Evers \"tried to make us pay even more at the pump by hiking the gas tax.\" Is the group right? Plan ties gas tax to rate of inflation When asked for backup or the claim, Nick Novak, WMC’s vice president of communications and marketing, pointed to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s summary of Evers’ proposed 2019-21 budget. On page 406, under the heading \"Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Rate Increase,\" is the following: \"Increase the motor vehicle fuel tax rate (gasoline, gasoline blended with ethanol, and diesel) by eight cents per gallon resulting in a rate of 38.9 cents per gallon, effective October 1, 2019. The current motor vehicle fuel tax rate has been in effect since April 1, 2006, when the final annual indexing adjustment increased the rate to the current 30.9 cents per gallon rate.\" In other words, the gas tax would be increased and – in the future – be tied and rise automatically with the rate of inflation. That’s what’s meant by indexing. For instance, the fiscal bureau estimated the gas tax under the plan would rise to 39.7 cents in April 2020 and 40.5 cents in April 2021. These increases would have cost Wisconsinites $41.6 million over the 2019-21 budget period. (A more recent memo from the bureau, dated March 31, 2022, estimated that the indexing would have brought the total to 42.0 cents per gallon on April 1, 2022. ) So, Evers definitely pushed a gas tax increase. But that’s only part of the picture. When the increase was proposed – with the money it generated to go toward increased transportation funding – Evers also proposed eliminating the state’s longstanding minimum markup law for gasoline. The minimum markup law was created during the Great Depression to protect small business from larger rivals. The law mandates a price floor where goods like gas, groceries, and beer are \"marked up\" so they are not used as \"loss leaders\" at a price level where the other businesses can’t compete. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Wisco Project stated on September 16, 2024 in Social media ads “If you make less than $100,000, Trump is about to raise your taxes. Currently, you’re taxed at 10% and then 12%. He would raise that to a flat rate of 15%.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • September 20, 2024 The state Department of Administration – overseen by Evers – said repealing the minimum markup law (which it labeled a \"hidden tax\") would save up to 14-cents per gallon. In other words, the Evers plan would have resulted in a net reduction for drivers at the pump of 6 cents per gallon. (From that perspective, even with rises tied to indexing in the subsequent years, based on the new fiscal bureau memo there would still be a per-gallon savings – though, of course, this is taking a narrow look at the gas tax, not overall economic matters that would affect price.) At the time, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative law firm, in an analysis of the Evers proposal noted elimination of the minimum markup law \"could immediately put more money back into the pockets of hard- working Wisconsinites all over the state\" but argued it \"should be fully repealed – not just for gasoline – and it should not be contingent on a tax increase.\" The idea from Evers was not entirely new. Republican lawmakers floated a similar plan in 2017 that would have raised the gas tax while curbing the minimum markup law, but the idea flopped when then- Gov. Scott Walker said he would not back it. This time, the GOP-held Legislature ultimately rejected Evers’ proposal and instead raised the title fee paid when vehicles are purchased by 137%, from $69.50 to $164.50. They also raised annual vehicle registration fees by $10, from $75 to $85. In any case, all of that goes against the idea that the primary aim of Evers’ plan was to simply raise the gas tax Kayla Anderson, an Evers campaign spokeswoman, said the governor \"was intentionally trying to ensure consumers would pay less at the pump, not more, by repealing the state\'s minimum markup law. Studies from both sides of the aisle have shown that the minimum markup law results in higher prices for consumers.\" That’s fair, to a point. But Novak, the WMC spokesman, noted \"even the Legislative Fiscal Bureau explained at the time that there may not be a change in the retail price of fuel by repealing the minimum markup law.\" Indeed, a March 2019 summary of the governor’s 2019-21 budget from the fiscal bureau said: \"Changes in retail fuel prices as a result of the provision, if any, would be subject to a variety of market and competitive factors, which are assumed to exert considerable influence on final retail prices independent of the statutory markup.\" Our ruling A WMC Issues Mobilization Council ad claimed Evers \"tried to make us pay even more at the pump by hiking the gas tax.\" In his first budget, the governor did propose an increase in the gas tax. But the ad ignores what was coupled with it: A move to eliminate the state’s \"minimum markup\" law as it relates to gasoline, which Evers and his office argued would be a net reduction for drivers. The inclusion of the elimination of the minimum markup law for gasoline in the plan undermines the idea that Evers was trying to make consumers pay more. At the same time, it was – and remains – far from clear that the elimination would reduce prices in the long run. And we have already seen, with inflation, that much of that initial savings would already have been eaten up. For a statement that is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context, our rating is Half True. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Issues Mobilization Council, campaign ad. Email, Nick Novak, vice president of communications and marketing, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Mark 23, 2022 Email, Kayla Anderson, Tony for Wisconsin press secretary, March 25, 2022 WBAY.com \"Wisconsin gas prices to climb at a pace not seen since 2008,\" March 7, 2022. GasBuddy \"U.S. National Average Price of Gasoline Hits New All-Time Record High,\" March 7, 2022 WMC Issues Mobilization Council, \"Even More,\" March 16, 2022 WMC Issues Mobilization Council ad YouTube. Legislative Fiscal Bureau Summary of Governor’s annual budget 2019-21 \"Transportation.\" News Release \"WILL Responds to Governor Evers\' Budget Address\" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \"Gov. Tony Evers seeks to raise gas tax by 8 cents a gallon while reducing the overall price at the pump,\" March 1, 2019 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \"GOP plan would hike Wisconsin taxes on gas, slash income taxes and borrowing,\" May 2, 2017 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \"GOP transportation plan would more than double title fees and limit security for lieutenant governor,\" July 26, 2019 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \"Transportation secretary to Gov. Tony Evers says lawmakers should raise gas tax in 2021,\" July 26, 2019 Wisconsin Department of Transportation \" What is the history of the state gas tax and passenger vehicle registration fees?\" Wisconsin Department of Administration, \"THE COST OF THE INCREASED GAS TAX WOULD BE OFFSET BY REPEALING THE MINIMUM MARKUP LAW, \" Page 81 Feb. 2019 Wisconsin Public Radio \"Gov. Tony Evers Calls For Gas Tax Increase In First Budget.\" Feb. 28, 2019 Legislative Fiscal Bureau, \"Estimate of Proposed Motor Fuel Tax Revenues,\" March 31, 2022 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by D.L. Davis ![](\\" ![](\\" Robert Cowles stated on July 12, 2024 in Radio address: “The most recent State Budget increased funding for the Department of Tourism by 98 percent.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • September 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Joe Biden stated on May 16, 2024 in News release: \"The Trump administration handed out taxpayer dollars to a foreign company. Hundreds of homes and farms were bulldozed, and over $500 million in taxpayer dollars were wasted preparing for Foxconn.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • July 13, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron Johnson stated on April 15, 2024 in Podcast: \"Every Senate Democrat has voted to support unlimited abortions up to the moment of birth.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • May 17, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Lisa Subeck stated on February 16, 2024 in X, formerly Twitter: “The United States is an outlier, one of only about half a dozen countries, without any guarantee of paid leave for new parents and/or other health care needs.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • April 16, 2024 ![](\\" new/e5f81dc43ebbfab7c9d9b56cfba2f398.jpg\\") ![](\\" new/9fbc38bd9f4148c4e7374ecdd8d95da4.jpg\\") Tammy Baldwin stated on February 1, 2024 in Facebook post: “Big drug companies charge as little as $7 for an inhaler overseas and nearly $500 for the exact same one here in the US.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • February 23, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Robin Vos stated on January 7, 2024 in TV interview: “The law in Wisconsin (on abortion time limit) is 20 weeks. That is way outside the international bounds.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • February 9, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Cindi Duchow stated on November 9, 2023 in Wisconsin Assembly: \"Unfortunately during COVID, the clerks in Madison and Milwaukee told their constituents that they were actually indefinitely confined and did not have to come and vote, which was incorrect.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • January 26, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron Tusler stated on September 12, 2023 in X, formerly Twitter: Wisconsin Republicans are backing “a nonpartisan redistricting plan based off the Iowa Model. ... Republicans, Democrats, and the Governor pushed this plan last time redistricting happened in 2020.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • December 8, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Rebecca Cooke stated on September 1, 2023 in X, formerly Twitter: \"Derrick Van Orden is one of the only members of Congress who participated in the deadly January 6th insurrection. He now serves in the building he tried to burn down.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • October 11, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" LaKeshia Myers stated on June 6, 2023 in News release: During the spring 2020 election in Milwaukee, a reduction to only five polling locations “came days before the election and was done without proper notice to voters.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • September 8, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kelda Helen Roys stated on April 26, 2023 in Twitter: Infertility is treated differently than other issues and \"often excluded from insurance coverage\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • May 26, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Robin Vos stated on March 9, 2023 in Podcast: “When a basketball player or football or baseball player from another team plays in Wisconsin, that one game\'s salary, they pay Wisconsin income tax on it. ... So, if for some reason we do not have the Brewers in Wisconsin all of those player salaries that generate dollars for the State of Wisconsin go away.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • May 12, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Paul Ryan stated on February 23, 2023 in TV interview: \"WOW county swing suburban voters (in Wisconsin) don\'t vote for Donald Trump.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By D.L. Davis • April 18, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tony Evers stated on March 8, 2023 in Twitter: The money for upgrades to the Milwaukee Brewers stadium in Evers’ budget is \"a bipartisan plan.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • March 28, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Joan Ballweg stated on January 24, 2023 in Twitter: \"Wisconsin has seen over 63 billion dollars of federal pandemic-related funding funnel into our state over (Gov. Tony Evers\') tenure.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By D.L. Davis • March 14, 2023 ### Ad claiming Evers tried to ‘make us pay even more at the pump’ is running on half tank * ![](\\" ![](\\" House Majority PAC stated on September 9, 2024 in a television ad: Laurie Buckhout is “trying to get to Congress to pass a national abortion ban, allowing politicians to ban abortions with no exceptions and prosecute women if they get an abortion, treating women right here like criminals.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Paul Specht • October 1, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump Jr. stated on September 9, 2024 in a post: “Less than three months ago, Kamala Harris and her administration blocked 300,000 unvetted Haitian migrants from being deported out of our country.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 30, 2024 in an X post: Photo shows President Joe Biden lounging on the beach \"while towns all over America were being wiped out” by Hurricane Helene. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Samantha Putterman • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on September 30, 2024 in in social media posts: “Biden Announces: ‘2.4 billion more to Ukraine’ but ‘no more aid for Hurricane Helene.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 24, 2024 in a post: “Olympic boxer Imane Khelif fails gender test, stripped of all titles, lifetime ban and $25 million prize money revoked!” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Grace Abels • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 30, 2024 in a press conference in Georgia: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was calling President Joe Biden after Hurricane Helene but \"hasn\'t been able to get him.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 29, 2024 in an Instagram post: “Video shows Kamala (Harris) responding to someone talking through her earrings that she allegedly wore during the Trump vs. Harris debate.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Elissa Slotkin stated on September 30, 2024 in a Meta ad: U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers “believes he should make that decision” about whether to end pregnancies. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Caleb McCullough • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Tim Sheehy stated on September 27, 2024 in an ad: U.S. Sen. Jon Tester “voted to give taxpayer-funded health care to illegal immigrants.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Louis Jacobson • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 26, 2024 in an Instagram post: “Kamala involved in P-Diddy’s rapes and assaults.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • September 30, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. 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Says Gov Tony Evers tried to make us pay even more at the pump by hiking the gas tax