Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Campaign Cash

Bill Repeals Nearly 300 Air Pollution Rules

Backed by WMC, oil, paper and manufacturing companies.

By - Dec 1st, 2017 11:02 am
Smokestacks. Photo from NASA.

Smokestacks. Photo from NASA.

Business, manufacturing, paper and oil interests are backing a GOP bill that would repeal nearly 300 state regulations on air pollutants that are regulated by federal law.

The measure, Assembly Bill 587, would also require any remaining state air pollution regulations that cover pollutants that are not regulated by federal law to expire 10 years after their effective date. Those air pollution rules would have to be readopted by the state Department of Natural Resources with approval from the legislature and the governor.

Backers of the bill, which was authored by Rep. Jesse Kremer, of Kewaskum, and Sen. Duey Stroebel, of Saukville, include Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), the state’s largest business group, which generally opposes environmental regulations. Other supporters include the American Petroleum Institute, the Wisconsin Paper Council, and the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, which represents large industrial natural gas and electricity users.

The bill is opposed by environmental and health organizations, which claim the measure would increase air pollution and harm public health, and would be particularly hazardous to the elderly, children, and those with respiratory illnesses.

All told, the special interests that support the bill contributed nearly $4.2 million since January 2011 to current Republican lawmakers, who hold comfortable majorities in the Senate and Assembly. Stroebel accepted $14,700 and Kremer received about $7,600 during the period from business, manufacturing, oil, and paper interests.

In addition to direct contributions, WMC, which is among the largest special interest spenders on outside electioneering activities, has doled out an estimated $18.6 million since January 2010 to support GOP and conservative legislative and statewide candidates.

5 thoughts on “Campaign Cash: Bill Repeals Nearly 300 Air Pollution Rules”

  1. Rich says:

    The measure, Assembly Bill 587, would also require any remaining state air pollution regulations that cover pollutants that are not regulated by federal law to expire 10 years after their effective date.

    How long have the regulations been in place as of now? Is this just some clever wording who’s actual impact is immediate repeal?

  2. Brewer says:

    Yup, Scotty, this will have millennials rushing over the border for jobs in polluted Wisconsin.

  3. carl says:

    Hilarious and sensationalism designed to enrage the low information reader where is the outrage over the constant REAL pollution of Lake Michigan by the city of Milwaukee and the mayor

  4. Lewk says:

    Carl, What would you do if presented with outrage over Lake Michigan pollution? Support regulating polluters? Your response is a canned GOP garbage spin. environmental protection is not a partisan issue. Unless your just a stooge posting comments to deflect from the obvious corruption that has metastasized at every level of Republican politics.

  5. MKE Kid says:

    Carl, you accuse others of being “low information.” That’s funny. Please educate yourself before posting such ignorant comments. MMSD also processes wastewater from Mequon, Glendale, Brookfield, Wauwatosa, West Allis, New Berlin, Greenfield, Cudahy, Muskego, and Franklin, in addition to Milwaukee.
    https://www.mmsd.com/about-us

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