GOP Majority on Finance Committee Refuses to Act on Clean Water, Healthcare Access for Wisconsinites

MADISON, Wis. — Republican members of the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) refused to convene today for a special meeting called by Governor Tony Evers to release $140 million in funds to address clean water access across the state and close gaps in healthcare access for patients suffering under hospital closures in western Wisconsin.

GOP members of the committee have been blocking $125 million in already approved funds to address the presence of PFAS contamination in Wisconsinites’ water. Instead of releasing these essential funds to Wisconsin communities, state Republicans previously backed a now-vetoed bill that would have let corporate polluters off the hook for their role in the growing PFAS levels.

The committee also could have acted today on $15 million in resources to ensure that, regardless of zip code, every Wisconsinite can easily access a healthcare provider.

“Wisconsinites deserve better than the complete disregard for our health and safety displayed by state Republicans today,” said A Better Wisconsin Together Communications Director Lucy Ripp. “Wisconsin families deserve clean drinking water, and to know that they can access a healthcare provider when they need one. Our elected leaders, especially those in charge of releasing these essential funds, have a duty to prioritize Wisconsinites and our needs, not their own selfish partisan interests.”

Republican JFC members who refused to take action today include:

Sen. Stroebel;
Rep. Zimmerman;
Sen. Ballweg;
Rep. Born;
Sen. Wimberger;
Rep. Kurtz;
Sen. Marklein;
Rep. Katsma;
Sen. Testin;
Rep. Rodriguez;
Sen. Felzkowski;
Rep. Dallman.

Call the Republican JFC members today and demand they immediately release the $140 million in resources for Wisconsinites’ health and safety.