Three candidates in the Republican gubernatorial primary participated in an event Wednesday hosted by Don O’Donnell, a conservative talk show host for WISN 1130 AM. The participants included Tim Michels, Rebecca Kleefisch, and Tim Ramthun. Although the event was billed as a debate, O’Donnell did not ask the candidates the same questions.
Michels said that he has never called to raise the state’s gas tax due to his fiscally conservative stances. He also referenced recent criticisms from Kleefisch over his ties to groups which have lobbied for increases to gas taxes; Michels once served as president of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association (WTBA), which once lobbied for a federal gas tax increase. In response, Michels said “I think that it’s very unfair, very disingenuous to use words lightly to say that I am a gas tax raiser.”
Kleefisch — who also opposes increases to the tax — responded by referencing Michels’ leadership role in WTBA, asking him “do your people who you say you lead just not listen, or are you just not taking responsibility?” Michels said that not every leader agrees with the majority’s opinion, saying that “my word is good, integrity is everything.” He added that “when I say I’ve never said I will raise gas taxes and I pledge I will never raise gas taxes, you can take it to the bank.”
Ramthun said he is apprehensive towards repealing or reducing the state gas tax. He said that reducing the tax would not significantly lower prices for consumers, while eliminating it would create issues with funding road improvement and infrastructure projects.
Listen to the full debate here: ♫ The Dan O’Donnell Show | The Dan O’Donnell Show (iheart.com)
Watch the debate here: The Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary Debate – YouTube
