Walker, Dem challengers clash over state’s gas tax

Candidates want to use money to help maintain highways, local roads

MADISON – The Democratic candidates for governor want to put more money into Wisconsin’s roads, and most of them are prepared to raise the gas tax to do it — an idea that GOP Gov. Scott Walker has long opposed.

Walker last year clashed with his fellow Republicans in the Legislature over road funding, resisting efforts from some in his party to hike gas taxes to help maintain highways and local roads. The dispute delayed the state budget by three months.

By and large, the Democrats in the jam-packed race for governor see higher gas taxes as one of the best ways to get road projects back on schedule. They are split on other funding options, such as raising vehicle fees and tolling.

Eight Democratic candidates said they would support raising the state's gas tax of 32.9 cents per gallon, including one who backs a hike of 8 cents per gallon. Two others said they would at least consider doing so.

Some Democrats want to raise the gas tax by a set amount, while others want to have it automatically increase every year based on inflation. That process, known as indexing, was in place for 20 years until Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and lawmakers from both parties ended the practice in 2005.

Reinstating indexing would raise the gas tax by about 0.8 cents per gallon, according to the Legislature's budget office.

Walker has long opposed raising the gas tax, saying he would do so only if other taxes were cut by the same amount or more. He has resisted raising fees on most vehicles and has been cool to the idea of tolling, though he showed openness last year to the idea of putting tolls along the state's borders — a proposal almost certain to face a legal chal-

lenge.

The final budget delayed projects, borrowed $402 million for transportation — far less than recent past budgets — and increased fees on hybrid and electric cars.

The Democrats running for governor trashed Walker’s record on transportation and said one of their top priorities is boosting funding for roads.

Here’s a look at where they stand:

Mike Crute, a liberal talk radio host and the latest entrant to the governor's race, said he backed raising the gas tax by 8 cents a gallon — the most of any of the candidate — and reinstating indexing.

Crute said he would raise heavy truck fees but not passenger vehicle fees. He would eliminate the recent fee increase on electric vehicles. He opposes tolling and would put more money into mass transit.

Tony Evers, the state schools superintendent, said through his campaign manager that he was willing to consider implementing tolling, raising the gas tax and increasing passenger vehicle and heavy truck fees.

“All options are on the table,” campaign manager Maggie Gau said in a statement.

Matt Flynn, the former chairman of the state Democratic Party, said he would have the gas tax automatically increase annually to account for inflation. He supports raising fees on heavy trucks and opposes tolling.

Mike McCabe, a liberal activist and former head of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said he was open to raising the gas tax by 2 or 3 cents a gallon and then adjusting it for inflation annually thereafter. He said he would consider a modest increase in heavy truck fees, but considers tolling “an option of last resort.”

He also said he would focus on rehabbing highways over new construction to keep costs down. McCabe said he would also consider a moratorium on building roundabouts to contain costs.

“Wisconsin has become roundabout-happy,” he said by email.

Mahlon Mitchell, the head of Wisconsin’s firefighters union, said he would tie the gas tax to inflation to help boost the overall transportation fund.

He said he opposed a number of other funding options, including tolling and raising vehicle and heavy truck fees.

Mitchell said he also wants to implement regional transit authorities that would have the ability to raise taxes or fees for bus systems or other forms of mass transportation.

Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik said he would consider raising the gas tax and passenger vehicle and heavy truck fees. He said he was also willing to consider imposing tolling or mileage-based fees to help develop a 20-year transportation plan.

Gronik said he wants to cut borrowing for roads by more than half.

Former state Rep. Kelda Roys of Madison said she would raise the gas tax and tie it to inflation. She didn’t say specifically how much she would raise it.

She said she would not raise passenger vehicle fees and would eliminate the recent surcharges added for electric and hybrid vehicles. She supports higher fees for heavy trucks, but said she is not inclined to implement tolling.

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said he would raise transportation funding by hundreds of millions of dollars over five years by raising the gas tax by 5 cents and linking future increases to inflation; allowing regional transit authorities; and tying vehicle fees to fuel efficiency. He opposes tolling.

State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma said she backs increasing the gas tax by 5 cents a gallon and imposing higher fees on railroad companies that use state-owned tracks.

State Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire said he would tie the gas tax to inflation, allowing annual increases. He said he would like to fund light rail and high-speed rail.

He said he would consider raising passenger vehicle fees and would consider imposing new fees on vehicles or industries that put more wear on roads.

He said he would consider tolling “if there was a way to do it without penalizing commuters.”

The primary is Aug. 14.