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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 ![](\\" ![](\\" Todd Rokita stated on April 23, 2018 in a debate: \"I am the only one onstage who has never voted to raise your taxes. These two, each, a billion dollars worth of votes to raise your taxes.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" half-true/6479cbc723379f0ee49c269b0b9790b7.jpg.\\") ![\\"half- true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * National * Candidate Biography * Taxes * Todd Rokita ![\\"Manuela](\\" By Manuela Tobias April 30, 2018 # Did Luke Messer and Mike Braun raise taxes in Indiana? In Indiana’s Republican primary, no candidate for U.S. Senate wants to be accused of hiking taxes. So when U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita called out his fellow challengers, U.S. Rep. Luke Messer and Mike Braun, for raising taxes in the April 23 debate, we budgeted some time for a fact-check. \"I am the only one onstage who has never voted to raise your taxes,\" Rokita said. \"These two, each, a billion dollars worth of votes to raise your taxes.\" Is that the case? The answer depends on what defines a tax increase. Through one lens Rokita may have a point. Through another, his comment can be seen as misleading. Whether these actions are turn-offs for conservative voters May 8 is for them to decide: The Braun and Messer tax hikes were approved by a Republican- controlled Legislature and a Republican governor. Has Todd Rokita ever raised taxes? Rokita, Indiana’s former secretary of state, has only been in a position to raise taxes since he was elected to Congress in 2010. Congress has been under partial or total Republican control since that time, preventing votes on direct tax increases. (More on that in a minute.) Unlike his competitors, he did not serve as a state legislator. Rokita joined the Indiana secretary of state’s office in 1997 as general counsel, later becoming deputy secretary of state. He won two terms as secretary of state before moving to Washington in 2010. As secretary of state, Rokita had no budget-adopting or tax-approving authority. \"It is usually easier for someone who has served less time in legislative bodies to make the argument being made by Rokita,\" said Paul Helmke, a professor at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Braun and Messer, on the other hand, are associated with a couple of tax hikes from their time in the state Legislature. Messer’s team argued that Rokita’s record of no tax votes is not so clear. Messer’s campaign pointed to the FAST Act, a transportation bill that tied customs user fees to inflation, increasing funding for highway spending by $5.2 billion over 10 years. But the transportation bill also won the vote of Messer, elected to Congress in 2012. Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, said this qualifies as a tax, because the government is imposing new charges on private market transactions. The same reasoning would apply to a bipartisan 2012 tariff on imports that Rokita supported. Helmke, on the other hand, didn’t consider the fee a tax hike because it was not assessed on the general population, as most people are not direct customs users. And while tariffs can lead to increased costs, he didn’t consider a vote to give the Commerce Department authority to impose a tariff as a vote for a tax hike. Has Braun ever voted to raise taxes? To understand Rokita’s point against Braun, you have to hit the road. Rokita pointed us to road funding legislation supported by Braun and signed into law by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2017. It came with a 10 cent per gallon gas statewide tax increase. The measure’s Republican sponsors said the tax hike would raise an average of $915 million a year in each of the next seven years. That’s pretty close to the $1 billion figure Rokita lobbed. The nonpartisan Indiana Legislative Services agency estimated the tax increase would bring in roughly $5 billion over a seven-year period. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on September 11, 2024 in an Instagram post \"Debate moderators made the false claim to Donald Trump that there is nowhere in the United States where abortion is legal up until birth.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Jeff Cercone • September 13, 2024 The main sponsor of the measure, GOP Rep. Ed Soliday, insisted it was not a tax hike but an adjustment to restore the state\'s buying power lost to inflation. Others called it a user fee, which affects only users of a service. But Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, didn’t mince words. \"Most people would say the gas tax is a tax and pretty hard for us to avoid,\" Hicks said. Rokita, however, previously supported the same tax hike when he was secretary of state. \"There’s already been 19 or 20 states that have raised their gas tax, because the federal government won’t, and as a result are going to have a better infrastructure,\" Rokita told Indianapolis radio host Abdul Hakim-Shabazz in 2015. \"And by the way, I don’t know of a politician that’s been unelected for that yet. So, I encourage all those in elective office — from the federal, to the state, to the local level — to look at these ideas.\" The call to action followed a month-long emergency closure of an interstate bridge that sank several inches in Rokita’s district in August 2015. Has Messer ever raised taxes? Experts had a tougher time calling Messer’s legislative actions tax hikes. The first half of Messer’s tax hikes come from a 2005 bill to finance a new Colts Stadium in Indianapolis, signed into law by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. The bill didn’t directly raise taxes, but authorized local governments to do so. That included taxes on food, beverages, hotels, motels and auto rentals. Much of the tax fell on tourists, Hicks said. And it was at the behest of the local governments. \"It was an increase that the legislators from the affected counties all asked for,\" Hicks said. \"It’s inaccurate to say this was a tax hike the state was responsible for. The local governments didn’t have to do it.\" In effect, Messer voted to allow certain counties to raise taxes by close to a billion dollars, according to the principal and interest payments on the bonds that financed the stadium. The other half of the attack on Messer comes from a 2005 budget that affected property taxes. The budget included language that reduced a state credit to local governments for property taxes. Without the credit, more taxes fell on property owners. It also altered the way property taxes were assessed, raising taxes for properties that had been previously undervalued by assessors. Statewide property taxes increased by an average of 24 percent, according to Larry DeBoer, agricultural economics professor at Purdue University, though some surprised homeowners received rebates that helped ease the burden. \"But back then a taxpayer group threw tea bags into an Indianapolis canal in protest — perhaps we can claim the first modern tea party movement here in Indiana, for better or worse,\" he said. Hicks said it was irresponsible to consider this hike without considering the large property tax cuts that followed, in 2008. But Messer was out of the state House by then. Our ruling Rokita said, \"I am the only one onstage who has never voted to raise your taxes. These two, each, a billion dollars worth of votes to raise your taxes.\" There is some truth in that Rokita has never voted to raise taxes in Indiana. As secretary of state, he did not have that power. In Congress, neither Rokita nor Messer have voted for direct tax increases. But Rokita voted for bills that raised user fees and import tariffs, which affected some taxpayers. (Messer, too, voted in favor of the user fees.) Braun indeed voted to increase taxes by almost $1 billion annually in a 2017 road funding law. Left unsaid by Rokita: He supported the gas tax from the sidelines, because it would lead to better infrastructure. Rokita also left out important context for Messer’s two 2005 votes that indirectly raised taxes by over $1 billion. One allowed local governments to increase taxes to fund the Indianapolis Colts football stadium. Another cut subsidies and changed the way property taxes were assessed. Overall, we rate the statement Half True. Share the Facts 2018-04-30 15:05:52 UTC PolitiFact ![\\"PolitiFact\\"](\\" logo-big.jpg\\"/) 4 1 7 ![\\"PolitiFact](\\" halftrue.jpg\\") PolitiFact Rating: Half True \"I am the only one onstage who has never voted to raise your taxes. These two, each, a billion dollars worth of votes to raise your taxes.\" Todd Rokita Republican congressman from Indiana Candidate-Debate-480562511.html ![](\\" Republican debate Monday, April 23, 2018 2018-04-23 Read More info #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources WLFI.com, Republican Senate Debate, April 23, 2018 Phone interviews with Nathan Brand, Todd Rokita spokesman, April 24, 2018 Phone interviews with Molly Gillaspie, Luke Messer spokeswoman, April 25, 2018 Phone interview with Josh Kelley, Mike Braun spokesman, April 25, 2018 Phone interview with Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, April 25, 2018 Phone interview with Matt Gardner, senior fellow at ITEP, April 25, 2018 Email interview with Dan Carden, statehouse bureau chief at NWI Times, April 25, 2018 Email interview with Niki Kelly, Indiana statehouse reporter at Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, April 25, 2018 Email interview with Larry DeBoer, agricultural economics professor at Purdue University, April 26, 2018 Email interview with Austin Drukker, senior research assistant at Brookings, April 26, 2018 Email interview with Paul Helmke, professor at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, April 25, 2018 Email interview with John M. Buhl, Media Relations Manager for the Tax Foundation, April 26, 2018 Email interview with Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, April 27, 2018 Email interview with Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, April 27, 2018 IndyPolitics.org, Rokita and Roads, Aug. 31, 2015 Youtube, Congressman Rokita addresses infrastructure, Oct 30, 2015 NWI Times, Indiana legislature, governor hike 45 different taxes, fees paid by Hoosiers, June 19, 2017 NWI Times, Final road funding plan hikes taxes, fees on Hoosier motorists, April 20, 2017 AP, Rokita hits Braun over tax hike he once spoke favorably of, Dec. 2, 2017 IGA.In.gov, House Bill 1002 IGA.In.gov, House Bill 1002 fiscal impact In.gov, House Bill 1001 In.gov, House Bill 1120 Congress.gov, H.R.4105 Clerk.House.gov, Roll call Heritage.org, Going Nowhere FAST: Highway Bill Exacerbates Major Transportation Funding Problems, Dec. 3, 2015 Livingston, CBP To Increase User Fees For Fiscal Year 2018 – Effective January 1, 2018 CBO.gov, congress-2015-2016/costestimate/hr22_1.pdf Clerk.House.gov, Roll call ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Manuela Tobias ![](\\" mugs-mug- independentgroup__________________3/98605b4996e42408507987c4affd735f.jpg\\") ![](\\" mugs-mug- independentgroup__________________3/d34069b2fffce57ddf492536b7c1e859.jpg\\") TheLastLineOfDefense.org stated on January 12, 2019 in a post on Facebook: \"Nancy Pelosi Removed From Benefit for ‘Being So Drunk She Couldn’t Stand Up’ \" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • January 23, 2019 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on January 19, 2019 in In a blog post: \"Pelosi’s Secret Overseas Mission Included 93 Family Members\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • January 23, 2019 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on January 8, 2019 in a televised speech: Says Sen. Charles Schumer \"repeatedly supported a physical barrier in the past along with many other Democrats. They changed their mind only after I was elected president.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • January 9, 2019 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on January 8, 2019 in a televised speech: \"At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Manuela Tobias • January 9, 2019 ![](\\" ![](\\" Eric Swalwell stated on November 12, 2018 in a tweet: \"15,000 troops will not see their families for #Thanksgiving because of @realDonaldTrump’s Scaravan Stunt. Oh yeah, it’s also costing you 200 million dollars.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • November 15, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump Jr. stated on November 12, 2018 in in a tweet: \"Nearly 200,000 Florida voters may not be citizens.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Amy Sherman • November 13, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party stated on November 1, 2018 in a Facebook ad: \"Attention hunters: Voting in North Dakota could cost you your out-of-state hunting licenses.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • November 2, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on October 26, 2018 in a campaign rally: \"The Democrat plan would just obliterate Medicare and terminate Medicare Advantage ... seniors who have been paying for this for years (and) will not be taken care of anymore.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Manuela Tobias • November 2, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kevin Cramer stated on October 26, 2018 in U.S. Senate debate: \"Protections on pre-existing conditions have been there since the 1970s.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Manuela Tobias • November 1, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" National Republican Senatorial Committee stated on October 24, 2018 in a digital ad: \"We know dangerous criminals can slip through immigration at airports just like ours. Yet Joe Donnelly stood right here with the radical left against all efforts to secure our most vulnerable entry points.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Manuela Tobias • October 26, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Future45 stated on October 16, 2018 in a campaign ad: Voting for \"any Democrat\" gets you \"socialism ... undefended open borders ... immediate tax increases ... 100 percent government-run health care ...\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • October 24, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kevin Cramer stated on October 18, 2018 in North Dakota Senate debate: \"The standard of voting in North Dakota is the easiest in the country.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • October 23, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Senate Leadership Fund stated on October 11, 2018 in a campaign ad: \"Washington Heidi supports sanctuary cities, where illegal immigrants can be released on our streets, like this criminal, who was let go and then sexually assaulted a child.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • October 19, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on October 9, 2018 in blog post: \"Indiana has purged no less than 20,000 voters in violation of a federal court order.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • October 17, 2018 ![](\\" ![](\\" National Taxpayers Union stated on October 10, 2018 in Washington Examiner op-ed: \"The latest round of tariffs now means that the total tax increase on Americans from enacted tariffs exceeds the tax increases from the Affordable Care Act.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Manuela Tobias • October 12, 2018 ### Did Luke Messer and Mike Braun raise taxes in Indiana? * ![](\\" ![](\\" 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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I am the only one onstage who has never voted to raise your taxes These two each a billion dollars worth of votes to raise your taxes