Conservation voters applaud Gov. Evers for vetoing poison pill PFAS bill; Polluter loophole and absence of funding undermined public health

MADISON – Today, Wisconsin Conservation Voters applauds Gov. Tony Evers for vetoing Senate Bill 312, which would have created a polluter loophole and undermined the DNR’s authority while also not appropriating any funding for PFAS.

This comes at a moment when more and more communities are identifying PFAS contamination – the toxic, human made chemicals tied to a host of serious health impacts, including complications with pregnancy, childhood obesity, learning and behavioral issues, thyroid disease, heart disease, diabetes, and testicular cancer.

Government Affairs Manager Peter Burress made this statement:

“Gov. Evers has shown his continued commitment to protecting the health of Wisconsinites and ensuring everyone in our state has clean drinking water. Communities with PFAS contamination in their drinking water said loud and clear that Senate Bill 312 was bad for Wisconsin. It didn't appropriate any money, and it included a dangerous poison pill that would have undermined the DNR’s authority to hold polluters accountable for the messes they make.

Today, Gov. Evers prioritized communities over the interests of corporate polluters. Now, we urge members of the Joint Finance Committee to support his compromise proposal and release the $125 million. Communities impacted by PFAS contamination cannot continue to wait.”

Peter Burress, Government Affairs Manager, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, 920-421-3601 (mobile/text), or peter@conservationvoters.org