Companies Accused of Polluting Donated $72,000
23 chemical companies sued for PFAS contamination support state political candidates.
Employees from a handful of 23 chemical companies sued by the City of La Crosse for PFAS contamination have contributed nearly $72,000 since 2015 to Wisconsin legislative and statewide candidates.
The lawsuit, like many others filed by local governments, citizens, and firefighters in recent years, claimed PFAS have contaminated public and private wells and that chemical makers have known of the dangers of PFAS for decades but kept them secret from users.
Employees and political action committees from four of the companies or their corporate parents contributed $71,958 to legislative and statewide candidates between January 2015 and Oct. 19, 2020.
The company employee and PAC contributions came from:
3M, $70,558
DuPont, $700
BASF Corp., $600
Corteva Inc., $100
The top recipients of those contributions were:
Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, $14,375
Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, $11,925
Committee to Elect a Republican Senate, $11,875
State Senate Democratic Committee, $6,000
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, $3,250
PFAS, which are commonly used in fire-fighting foam, nonstick cookware, and water- and stain-resistant clothing and carpet, have been linked to cancer, thyroid, and reproductive illnesses. The manmade chemicals have become a growing concern in recent years because they have been found in drinking water supplies throughout Wisconsin and they do not break down in the human body or the environment.
In a related development, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), the state’s largest business group, sued the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources last month claiming that the agency does not have the authority to enforce clean-up standards for PFAS.
Late last year, Republican lawmakers weakened an emergency rule and the DNR’s ability to monitor and regulate water treatment for the foam after WMC objected to the proposal.
WMC is a leading spender on outside electioneering activities in Wisconsin. The group has doled out more than $26 million since January 2010 to support Republican and conservative legislative and statewide candidates in Wisconsin state elections.
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More about the PFAS Problem
- PFAS in Foam Far Worse Than Water in Wisconsin’s Rivers, Lakes - Danielle Kaeding - Jul 10th, 2024
- Lawmakers At Odds Over Releasing Health, PFAS Funds - Erik Gunn - Jun 6th, 2024
- Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Governor’s Vetoes - Baylor Spears - May 15th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Sues Republican Legislators for Continued Obstruction of Investments Intended to Address Pressing Challenges Facing Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - May 13th, 2024
- Legislators Agree on Opioid Plan, Still Withhold PFAS, Hospital Funds - Erik Gunn - May 8th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Again Calls Republican Lawmakers into Special Meeting to Urge Immediate Release of $140 Million to Fight PFAS Statewide, Respond to Hospital Closures in Western Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - May 6th, 2024
- The State of Politics: Voters Worried About PFAS in Water - Steven Walters - Apr 22nd, 2024
- EPA Slaps Two PFAS Chemicals With Superfund Law Designation - Danielle Kaeding - Apr 19th, 2024
- DNR Responds To EPA’s Designation Of PFOA And PFOS As Hazardous Substances - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Apr 19th, 2024
- Evers Won’t Rule Out Court Challenge to Force Release of PFAS Funds - Danielle Kaeding - Apr 16th, 2024
Read more about PFAS Problem here
Campaign Cash
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Outside Groups Spent Record $28.8 Million on State Supreme Court Race
May 7th, 2023 by Erik Gunn -
Top 20 Donors to State Political Parties
Apr 4th, 2023 by Peter Cameron and Hina Suzuki -
$38 Million Spent on High Court Race
Mar 29th, 2023 by Erik Gunn
What a surprise! WMC is a clear and present danger to our health and ultimately their own families too. If it’s in the water, it’s in your food or soon will be.