Gov. Tony Evers is urging Republican lawmakers to support a compromise proposal aimed at releasing $125 million to fight PFAS contaminants statewide, according to a press release today. The investment, available through the 2023–25 biennial budget passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and enacted by Gov. Evers last July, has remained unspent in Madison for over 230 days as Republican legislators have not released the funding.
Evers’ compromise proposal comes after Republicans last week passed Senate Bill (SB) 312, which neither appropriates new funding to fight PFAS nor releases any portion of the $125 million previously secured through the biennial budget process. As passed by Republicans in the Legislature, SB 312 provides no actual or immediate financial assistance to communities impacted by PFAS and provides no guarantee the $125 million investment will be distributed to communities affected by PFAS contaminants.
Additionally, SB 312 contains “poison pill” provisions that could functionally give polluters a free pass from cleaning up their own spills and contamination. It prohibits the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from taking enforcement action against polluters and contaminators so long as the polluter allows the DNR to remediate the site at the DNR’s own expense.
Evers’ compromise proposal to the Joint Finance Committee largely reflects SB 312 as passed by Republican lawmakers. The compromise is functionally identical to SB 312 as amended and passed by Republicans in the Wisconsin State Legislature but removes controversial “poison pill” provisions from the Republican-backed proposal.
A copy of Gov. Evers’ compromise proposal is available here. A copy of Gov. Evers’ letter to Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs is available here.
