After veto, Evers still wants PFAS funding

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s governor has scuttled the latest plan to deal with PFAS contamination in the state.

Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the proposal from Republican lawmakers, saying the plan included a loophole for polluters.

“I will not sign legislation that has any chance of letting those who cause PFAS contamination off the hook for remediating their contamination, and I cannot accept the Legislature’s attempts to shift both the responsibility and cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination to Wisconsin taxpayers rather than polluters,” the governor said in his veto message,

But Republicans say the governor’s definition of polluter includes anyone who finds any PFAS contamination on their land or in their water, even if the chemicals came from somewhere else.

“If you own a farm or property that used to be a farm, or live near an airport, Gov. Evers vetoed comprehensive PFAS relief for the sole purpose of keeping the authority to hold you financially liable as if you had put the pollution in the ground yourself,” Sen Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, said in a statement. “DNR admits that current law allows them to punish innocent landowners, but that they promise never to use it – so why would Gov. Evers veto comprehensive PFAs relief over this power if they don’t plan to use it?”

Wimberger, who wrote the GOP PFAS plan, says he’d rather focus on cleaning Wisconsin’s drinking water. He accused the governor of simply wanting to sue.

“Evers callously ignores the secondary effects innocent landowners face as they are declared emitters, forced to notify their bank that their equity was destroyed and that they’re now responsible for remediation costs by law. I remain extremely concerned for the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who have to choose between financial ruin and their health caused solely by the governor’s desire for regulatory domination,” Wimberger added.

Evers said he still wants the $125 million lawmakers have set aside for PFAS clean up. Evers on Tuesday called lawmakers to meet with him about -up a trust fund.

“There is no reason Wisconsinites should have to wait any longer than they already have for these funds to be released. This is about doing the right thing for our kids, our families, and our communities, and it should’ve been done a long time ago. This must get done,” Evers said.

Wimberger said a new round of meetings won’t change anything now because of the governor’s veto.

“This bill is the only vehicle for these funds to be released without creating a massive slush fund for the DNR,” Wimberger added.