Republicans send PFAS bill to Evers

photo from wispolitics

“Republicans sent a bill aiming to combat PFAS contamination to Gov. Tony Evers April 4 amid an ongoing standoff on the issue, starting a weeklong countdown for the guv to take action.

Evers has vowed to veto SB 312 over provisions limiting DNR authority to regulate the forever chemicals, which he has argued would benefit polluters. The Dem guv has instead called for the GOP-run Joint Finance Committee to release the $125 million set aside in the state budget and use it to fund an alternate proposal that eliminates those provisions.

Co-author Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, in a letter to Evers said the bill had undergone extensive changes, including at DNR’s request.

‘However, we have been clear from the beginning that we will not sell out the communities on the front lines of the fight against PFAS by removing protections for victims of pollution,’ Wimberger said.

Wimberger said he was ‘extremely concerned’ that Evers doesn’t understand the challenges pollution victims face and that Evers is ‘confused’ about the content of the bill.

His letter included memos from the Legislative Council, which he said show the bill will provide protections for innocent victims who own PFAS-contaminated property from fines while maintaining current law for those who cause pollution.

Wimberger said the threat of enforcement orders from DNR destroys property values, causing banks to refuse to refinance and call in their loans.”

Quote from www.wispolitics.com