Governor Evers Calls on Federal Government to Suspend Gas Tax; Not Ready to do the Same for State Taxes

Friday, March 11th, 2022 -- 12:01 PM

(WMTV) With average gas prices in Wisconsin surpassing four dollars per gallon, Gov. Tony Evers has already called on federal lawmakers to suspend the federal gas tax to help lower prices.

However, the governor indicated Wednesday that he is not yet prepared to take that step with the much higher state taxes and fees. On Tuesday, Evers and four other Democratic governors urged Congressional leaders to waive the 18.4 cent federal tax on gasoline.

When asked the next day if he would like to see Wisconsin make a similar move, Evers described the high prices as a “federal issue” and appeared to indicate that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the sole driver of the record-setting prices seen across the country.

“I think we focus first on the federal government. This is a federal government issue.  We’re not at war in the State of Wisconsin with Ukraine.  It is the United States of America and that’s where we need to look first,” Evers told an NBC15 News photojournalist during a Wednesday news conference.

Wisconsin drivers pay over 50 cents per gallon in state and federal taxes and fees combined every time they fill their tank. While a portion of that goes to Washington, an even larger chunk heads to Madison.

The Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation reports drivers in the Dairy State fork over nearly 30.9 cents per gallon as well as two more cents per gallon for a petroleum clean-up program fee. The nearly 33 cents combined per gallon is the 11th highest state rate in the country.

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