Haley Campaign Press Release - Trump Getting Scared in New Hampshire, Lies About Haley's Tax Record

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Two days ago, Donald Trump denied Nikki Haley's surge. Now, Trump is running false, negative ads against Haley. It looks like Donald Trump is getting nervous.

Trump is recycling the same debunked lies peddled by Ron DeSantis—another sign of his desperation. Nikki Haley never supported a stand alone gas tax increase. In fact, then-Gov. Haley killed the gas tax hike pushed by the South Carolina legislature and industry groups.

This claim has already been fact-checked and declared false by conservatives and independent analysts. A tax expert with Americans for Tax Reform called the charge "incomplete" and misleading." The New York Times fact-checker said, "Ms. Haley did not increase the gas tax as governor. She resisted calls to raise the gas tax as a stand-alone measure."

Do you know who supported a stand-alone gas tax increase? Drumroll please.... Donald J. Trump. That's right. In 2018, Trump endorsed a 25-cent gas tax hike but was shot down by conservatives.

"Donald Trump's false attack ad sends a loud and clear message: Nikki Haley is surging and Trump is scared," said Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas. "If Trump wants to talk about how he supported a 25-cent gas tax increase, he can show up to the Iowa debate on January 10."

FACTS

Haley adamantly opposed a standalone gas tax increase as governor.

• In 2014, when members of the legislature were pushing to increase the gas tax, Haley shot them down.
• Despite pressure from the Chamber of Commerce, the Trucking Association, and the legislature, Haley explained that she opposed a gas tax increase because she believes funding for infrastructure can be generated without raising taxes and businesses looking to come to South Carolina pay attention to the state's lower tax.

Haley introduced a roads plan that would ONLY increase the gas tax if it was tied to income tax rate cuts. It was a net tax cut that was supported by Grover Norquist, head of the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform

• In January 2015, Haley introduced a roads plan that would ONLY raise the gas tax if the legislature agreed to cut South Carolina's income tax rate (the highest in the Southeast) from 7 to 5 percent over 10 years.
• The proposed tax cut was more than five times the size of the proposed increase, with taxpayers netting almost $5.6 billion in savings over 10 years.
• Haley's tax cut plan died in the legislature. Gas taxes were NOT increased under her tenure.

Haley is the only presidential candidate who has called for eliminating the federal gas and diesel tax.

• Haley's Freedom Plan calls for repealing the federal gas and diesel tax.

Donald Trump called for increasing the gas tax as president.

• In 2018, Trump endorsed a 25-cent gas tax increase as part of his infrastructure plan. He was shot down by conservatives.
• Analysts say this bird-brained idea would wipe out 60% of the benefits for individuals from Trump's tax cuts.