Did Wisconsin congressional candidate Tony Wied lobby to raise gasoline prices?

Republican Tony Wied didn’t lobby to raise gasoline prices. His association opposed a bill that might have lowered gas prices short term.

Democrat Kristin Lyerly made the lobbying claim Aug. 23, 2024.

Both are running for a Green Bay, Wisconsin-area U.S. House seat in the Nov. 5 election.

Lyerly’s campaign noted Wied, a former gas station owner, was a board member of what used to be known as the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.

In 2019, the association lobbied against a bill that would have repealed Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act, also known as the minimum markup law.

Wied was not among the association’s registered lobbyists on the bill, which didn’t become law.

The minimum markup law prohibits selling items, including gasoline, below cost, which the law says prevents unfair competition. It requires a minimum markup of 9.18% on gas.

Some conservatives argue the law artificially raises prices.