GOP Leaders Urge Gov. Evers to Sign Divisive PFAS Bill
It provides funding but restricts Wisconsin DNR's enforcement powers against polluters.
Top Republican lawmakers urged Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Monday not to veto a bill that would provide a way for $125 million to be used to combat PFAS across Wisconsin. Evers has said he would veto the bill because of provisions that would restrict the state Department of Natural Resources’ enforcement powers against polluters and contaminators.
“Please do not veto this bill,” the lawmakers wrote. “The JFC will not change the legislative intent for these funds. Through the legislative process, public hearings and extensive revisions and compromise, the PFAS relief bill passed by the Legislature has earned the support of affected communities, including all three statewide associations representing all levels of local government.”
The money has been in limbo for months as lawmakers debated the rules under which it could be spent. The final legislation, SB 312, would provide the mechanism for the funds to be distributed and passed the Assembly in February. However, it had no support from Democrats due to provisions that clean water advocates have said could shield polluters from being held accountable.
The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submitted a formal request to the Republican-controlled JFC for the release of the funds without the bill in December, and Evers has urged lawmakers on numerous occasions over the last several months to release the funds, saying that it couldn’t wait.
Born and Marklein wrote in their letter that vetoing the bill would turn the money “the Legislature intended to help victims into an unaccountable slush fund that your administration has said it would use to bring enforcement action against farmers and other innocent landowners who didn’t cause the pollution in the first place.”
The bill has yet to be presented to Evers.
Evers’ spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in an email to the Examiner that there has been “no change in the governor’s position, notwithstanding the disingenuous comments of the two Republican Joint Finance Committee co-chairs who’ve spent 271 days now refusing to release $125 million in already-approved funds to combat PFAS contamination statewide.”
Republican leaders urge Gov. Evers to sign divisive PFAS legislation was originally published by Wisconsin Examiner.
More about the PFAS Problem
- Trump Administration moves to weaken standards for toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water - Clean Wisconsin - May 14th, 2025
- Wisconsin Officials Unhappy With EPA Plan To Weaken PFAS Standards - Danielle Kaeding - May 14th, 2025
- Wisconsin Could Lose $55 Million Under Proposed EPA Budget Cuts - Danielle Kaeding - May 7th, 2025
- French Island Makes Progress on PFAS Pollution - Richelle Wilson and Trevor Hook - Mar 24th, 2025
- Who Will Pay for PFAS Pollution? - Bennet Goldstein - Feb 27th, 2025
- Gov. Evers’ biennial state budget prioritizes clean water, clean energy, and public lands for Wisconsin - Wisconsin Conservation Voters - Feb 18th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Announces Comprehensive Plan to Ensure Clean Water for Kids and Families in 2025 Year of the Kid - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 18th, 2025
- GOP Lawmakers Propose School Water Filters to Address PFAS, Lead - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 14th, 2025
- Wisconsin Conservation Voters thank Gov. Evers for prioritizing public health, urges bipartisan prioritization of baseline PFAS groundwater standards - Wisconsin Conservation Voters - Feb 5th, 2025
- Evers Announces $145 Million Plan to Address PFAS - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 4th, 2025
Read more about PFAS Problem here
Thank you Governor Evers!