State Republicans Oppose Federal PFAS Law
Just one of state's five GOP House members backs bill regulating 'forever chemicals.'
Just a month ago Republican state legislators in charge of the state’s budget-writing process eliminated a number of key initiatives aimed at confronting a growing number of PFAS or “forever chemical” contaminations across the state. Now you can add similar pro-PFAS votes cast against a multi-pronged Federal measure by US GOP Reps. Tom Tiffany, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman and Bryan Steil.
I cannot explain why this WisPolitics left out the names of four of five Wisconsin GOP Representatives whose “nay” votes undermine the ‘bipartisan’ thrust of the headline:
PFAS legislation clears House with bipartisan support
— U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher was the only GOP member of Wisconsin’s delegation to join all Dems in passing a measure to limit the use of PFAS pollutants.
The Allouez Republican joined all 218 House Dems in a 241-183 vote that sent the PFAS Action Act to the Senate for consideration. While only one of Wisconsin’s Republicans supported the measure, 22 Republicans from other states joined him.
The measure would set regulations on the use of PFAS chemicals and direct the EPA to list PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances. The EPA would also have to determine if these forever chemicals qualify as toxic pollutants under the Clean Water Act and set a national standard for the amount of PFAS chemicals allowed in drinking water.
PFAS chemicals are manufactured chemicals found in various everyday items such as food packaging, non-stick cookware, cosmetics and firefighting foams. Gallagher’s northeastern Wisconsin district is one of the state’s hotspots.
Democratic U.S. Representatives from Wisconsin noted how harmful and widespread this pollution is. Mark Pocan noted that “Every single one of our drinking wells in Madison has traces of PFAS ” and Ron Kind said “PFAS contamination is a serious threat to public health, and an issue far too many communities across Wisconsin are currently dealing with.” And Gallagher offered this tweet: “People deserve to know whether or not their water is contaminated by chemicals like PFAS.”
The WisPolitics story included a link to the roll call vote, but why send readers to a link with more than 400 names to scroll through when the names of the ‘nay’ votes in the small Wisconsin delegation could have easily been included in the text.
Not every reader can rattle off the names of the members of Wisconsin’s GOP congressional delegation other than Mike Gallagher. And surely this issue is important enough to spotlight the actions — or non-action — of all Wisconsin representatives.
James Rowen, a former journalist and mayoral staffer in Milwaukee and Madison, writes a regular blog, The Political Environment.
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
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A “small” but important column. Post-modern Republicanism has two drivers. The first is racial animus, nativism and white victimization. The second, reflected in James’ column is as a money driven tool of plutocracy and corporate power, as reflected in these votes. Remember the “Wississippi” jokes? Not so ironic any more.