Kooyenga To Walker: Gas Tax Plan Is Not A Tax Increase

The author of Assembly Republicans’ gas tax plan defended his legislation Tuesday against criticism from Gov. Scott Walker.

Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, told WPR he disagrees with Walker’s claim that the plan will result in a tax increase.

“It’s not a net tax increase,” Kooyenga said. “If you look at the entire package, we’re talking about substantially more tax cuts than uppers in the transportation budget fund.”

The Assembly GOP’s plan would cut the state’s fuel tax, but it would also apply state sales tax to gasoline. Overall, that would result in a 7-cents-per-gallon increase, according to the legislature’s nonpartisan budget office.

Another part of the plan would get rid of mandated gas markups required by state law. In his comments to WPR, Kooyenga said eliminating this provision of the law would offset increases in gas prices.