stated on September 12, 2016 in a TV ad:
Says Tom Nelson "backed higher taxes on Social Security, costing Wisconsin seniors $95 million."
Democrat Tom Nelson (left) and Republican Mike Gallagher are running to succeed Green Bay-area GOP U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble.
By Tom Kertscher September 30, 2016
In House race, Mike Gallagher's false claim about Tom Nelson and taxing Social Security benefits
The competitive race for an open congressional seat in the Green Bay area has been marked by attack ads on Social Security.
Democrat Tom Nelson and Republican Mike Gallagher are vying in the Nov. 8, 2016 election to succeed Reid Ribble, a Republican who decided not to run for a fourth term.
The Rothenburg and Gonzales Political Report, as well as the Cook Report, both recently shifted the race from "toss up" to "leans Republican."
On Sept. 1, 2016, Nelson, the Outagamie County executive, released a TV ad accusing Gallagher of having a plan that would "cut Social Security benefits for two-thirds of seniors." Our rating was Half True.
Gallagher, a former U.S. Marine and former congressional aide, has not made such a proposal. However, he has praised a proposal that would make those cuts, saying he is most influenced on Social Security by the proposal's author.
On Sept. 12, 2016, it was Gallagher's turn. He released a TV ad accusing Nelson of having "backed higher taxes on Social Security, costing Wisconsin seniors $95 million."
Let's see how this one rates.
Gallagher points to a vote that Nelson, then a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, took on the 2005-'07 state budget -- a 394-page document with thousands of figures and provisions.
One provision in the budget, which was adopted by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, eliminated state income taxes on Social Security benefits.
So, despite Gallagher's claim, there was not a proposal for higher taxes on Social Security.
Featured Fact-check
stated on December 25, 2020 in a Facebook post
"Judge Rules Over 200,000 Biden Votes Are Illegitimate In Wisconsin."
By Eric Litke • January 6, 2021
But eliminating the tax did save Wisconsin Social Security recipients an estimated $99.7 million per year, roughly what Gallagher claimed, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
Nelson voted against the budget. But does that mean he voted against the Social Security provision it contained?
When voting on something as huge as a state budget, a lawmaker could vote no for any number of reasons having to do with spending, policies or other factors. In other words, a no vote on the overall budget doesn't mean a lawmaker opposed every single provision, or even any particular provision.
Nelson has said he voted no because the budget reduced funding for education.
The budget didn't actually reduce funding for public schools. It added $458 million over the two-year period. But the amount was less than half of the $938 million increase advocated by Doyle, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported at the time.
There's one more point -- a significant one.
Nelson voted for an amendment that added the repeal of the tax on Social Security benefits to the budget. So, he was for the repeal, even though he voted against the overall state budget that ultimately accomplished the repeal.
Gallagher's campaign called it a "show" vote. But unlike the budget, it was an up-or-down vote on a single provision and, as such, gives a clearer idea of his position.
Gallagher says Nelson "backed higher taxes on Social Security, costing Wisconsin seniors $95 million."
Nelson voted against the 2005-'07 state budget, which ended the state income tax on Social Security benefits, saving seniors more than $95 million per year.
But that's not the same as backing higher taxes on Social Security, something that was not even on the table. And a vote against the overall state budget doesn't mean Nelson opposed eliminating the tax on Social Security benefits. Indeed, he voted for the amendment that added that provision to the budget.
We rate Gallagher's statement False.
https://www.sharethefacts.co/share/35810e3c-d936-4666-b6dc-4fb66acd6d61
YouTube, Mike Gallagher "Called out" TV ad, Sept. 12, 2016
Email, Tom Nelson campaign spokesman Ethan Susseles, Sept. 16, 2016
Email, Mike Gallagher campaign spokeswoman Madison Wiberg, Sept. 22, 2016
Tom Nelson campaign, statement on "Called out" ad, Sept. 12, 2016
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Nelson and Gallagher tangle on taxes, deficits," Sept. 17, 2016
Waupaca County News, "Social Security focus of race," Sept. 21, 2016
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Veto of entire budget seen as unlikely Many encourage Doyle instead to make adjustments," July 7, 2005
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "State budget goes to Doyle Assembly approves Senate's 2-year plan," July 6, 2005
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tax bills are likely to drop by a dollar But $400 million in spending pushed past '07," August 17, 2005
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, "State Tax and Fee Modifications Included in 2005 Act 25," July 12, 2006
Read About Our Process
The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Tom Kertscher
stated on January 6, 2021 a Facebook post:
"Coronavirus vaccinations seem to be causing 50 times the adverse events of flu vaccinations after just the first of two shots."
By Tom Kertscher • January 15, 2021
Voting machines didn't work in heavily GOP areas for the Georgia runoff elections, leaving some voters unable to cast ballots.
By Tom Kertscher • January 7, 2021
Says Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger "faces espionage charges."
Viral image
stated on December 29, 2020 a Facebook post:
Says COVID-19 vaccines have "experimental technology never before used on humans" and that some "contain nanochips which can electronically track recipients."
stated on December 9, 2020 an interview:
Says Raphael Warnock has "said we need to open up the prisons" and "eliminate cash bail."
By Tom Kertscher • December 18, 2020
Raphael Warnock
stated on December 15, 2020 an ad:
Says Kelly Loeffler supports "raising taxes on Georgia's middle class."
Says Jon Ossoff "wants total, blanket amnesty and he wants a total lockdown."
Jon Ossoff
stated on December 6, 2020 a debate:
Says David Perdue "hasn't held a single public town hall meeting in six years" and "sells four meetings a year and a retreat on a private island for a $7,500 corporate PAC check."
Says Kelly Loeffler "welcomed the support of a QAnon conspiracy theorist, and she sat down with a white supremacist for an interview."
By Tom Kertscher • December 9, 2020
stated on November 13, 2020 an ad:
Says Raphael Warnock defended the "hatred" of Jeremiah Wright, the pastor who said "not God bless America, God damn America," and gave Wright "an award for truth telling."
stated on November 13, 2020 a proposal:
Says her health care plan would "ensure Americans with preexisting conditions are protected."
By Tom Kertscher • November 30, 2020
stated on November 16, 2020 an interview:
Says Jon Ossoff is "a socialist."
stated on November 5, 2020 an ad:
Says Kelly Loeffler is "for getting rid of health care in the middle of a pandemic."
"David Perdue says he'll do everything in his power to make sure Joe Biden fails."
stated on November 13, 2020 a tweet:
Says Raphael Warnock "ran over his wife" and was "arrested for obstructing an investigation into child abuse."
Jon Rosenthal
stated on January 5, 2021 in a tweet:
Says that "the way to reach 'herd immunity' is for >70% of the population to get vaccinated."
By Brandon Mulder • January 15, 2021
Amanda Chase
stated on January 7, 2021 in Facebook post:
"Antifa is the culprit" in the Capitol riot.
By Warren Fiske • January 15, 2021
Devin LeMahieu
stated on January 10, 2021 in a TV interview:
"It takes quite a while on Election Day to load those ballots, which is why we have the 1 a.m. or 3 a.m. ballot dumping in Milwaukee."
By Eric Litke • January 15, 2021
stated on January 6, 2021 in a Facebook post:
stated on January 10, 2021 in a Facebook post:
A photo shows Democratic lawmakers wearing clothing and masks with the Nazi swastika.
By Samantha Putterman • January 15, 2021
Sarah Godlewski
stated on January 9, 2021 in Twitter:
"It wasn't all women that lost jobs (in the December jobs report), it was mostly Black and Latina women. In fact, white women gained employment."
By Nusaiba Mizan • January 15, 2021
Photo shows Rep. Lauren Boebert with Capitol rioters before she gave them a tour of the building "one day before the insurrection."
stated on January 12, 2021 in blogs:
Antifa provoked the shooting of Ashli Babbitt at the Capitol.
By Noah Y. Kim • January 14, 2021
Says Rep. Pramila Jayapal was not wearing a mask in Congress during the U.S. Capitol mob.
By Bill McCarthy • January 14, 2021
Chris Jacobs
stated on January 7, 2021 in a television interview:
"There were several states where outside actors dramatically changed the rules of the road, so to speak, two weeks out, one week out, on how elections would be run."
By Jill Terreri Ramos • January 13, 2021