Wisconsin Capitol Building at night during Chrismas. MWC file photo by Mike Leischner
MADISON, WI (WSAU) — Governor Tony Evers released a statement slamming Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee after they skipped a special session to discuss spending $125 million for PFAS mitigation efforts and another $15 million in crisis response funding for healthcare in Western Wisconsin.
Republicans including Committee Co-Chairs Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Mark Born noted that while the Governor has the authority to call a special meeting, the JFC is not obligated to meet or take action. They told the Governor late last week that they would not meet.
“It’s been 286 days since we approved $125 million in the budget to fight PFAS statewide, and it’s been 48 since we passed $15 million to support healthcare access in Western Wisconsin in the wake of significant hospital closures, but these resources are still sitting in Madison because Republicans won’t release them. That’s wrong, and this obstruction is beyond ridiculous,” said Gov. Evers in a press release. “Wisconsinites expect elected officials to show up and put politics aside to find common ground and do the right thing—they deserve a hell of a lot better than what they’re getting from Republicans today.
“These investments the Legislature and I both already approved should have been released weeks and months ago, and there is no excuse for them to still be sitting in Madison while these challenges facing our communities get more difficult and more expensive with each day of delay,” Gov. Evers continued. “Make no mistake—I’m not going to let up on this issue, I am going to continue fighting for these funds to be released, and I am directing my office to examine any and all options, including litigation, to end this unconstitutional obstruction.”
Speaker Robin Vos responded to Gov. Evers’s post on X discussing the meeting saying, “Will the media actually ask if he’s offered to meet and negotiate with any GOP legislators after vetoing the PFAs bill that passed the legislature? It’s all just him huffing and puffing…no real substance.”
The special session was scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 AM. Ever’s statement noted that the funds were originally passed in a bipartisan manner, but blamed Republicans for holding on to the money instead of releasing it to Wisconsin communities.
Democratic members of the committee still gathered with the Governor and took questions from the media on Tuesday.
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