State Sen. Eric Wimberger speaks during a press conference at the Brown County Courthouse Monday, May 13, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — The issue over PFAS relief in the state continues to gain speed.
The Wisconsin state Senate will come together Tuesday to potentially override dozens of vetoes from Governor Tony Evers.
Among them is Senate Bill 312, a Republican-authored plan which would have created grants for municipalities to combat PFAS contamination.
“Current law treats innocent land owners the same way as the point source polluter, or manufacturer,” said State Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay) at the Brown County Courthouse Monday, one of several locations where state republicans announced the override effort.
Before Monday’s announcement, Democratic Governor Tony Evers continued to be critical of the state’s joint finance committee, urging them to release the contamination relief money.
“What we have now is joint finance committee sitting on money for PFAS and making sure that we have clean water,” said Evers Monday in Gillett, where he continued his “Pothole Patrol” tour.
Last week, Evers called a second special meeting for the committee to take up the issue of PFAS funds.
Similar to the first attempt, no action was taken.
On Monday, Evers announced he is suing the state legislature over what he claims is their refusal to release funds such as PFAS contamination relief.
“We hate to do this but, if the legislature isn’t going to cooperate with the bills they pass, we have to do something,” said Evers.
“If we were to just grant a lump sum of money without any specific direction, well then it could be kind of maneuvered around in ways that the legislature might not have intended,” said Wimberger.
PFAS are chemicals that have been linked to cancers, as well having negative impacts to the liver and heart. Numerous areas in the state have struggled with PFAS contamination, such as the town of Peshtigo and city of Marinette.
“I implore the Wisconsin legislature to override the governors veto so that SB 312 can be put into action, which will in turn provide safeguards for the spending of the 125 million allotted, tax payer money,” said Jennifer Friday, chairperson of the Town of Peshtigo, at the Brown County Courthouse on Monday.
The legislature can override a veto by the governor by a two-thirds supermajority vote. Any override would also need to be approved by the state Assembly.
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