Wisconsin leads nation in cuts to environmental protection

It is a dubious distinction. Wisconsin, long known for its pristine natural beauty, a magnet to outdoor enthusiasts of all sorts, isn’t doing a very good job protecting that natural beauty. A new report shows that over the last decade, Wisconsin has cut funding for environmental protections more than any other state. According to the Environmental Integrity Project, DNR spending to protect public health and the environment from pollutants was cut 36% between 2008-2018. This comes at a time when the federal government is also rolling back environmental protections. Violations go unenforced, and even more go undetected because of a lack of resources. It is no surprise Wisconsin fares so poorly in this survey. The state rolled back protections when it tried to lure a mining company to the state. Positions have been cut at the DNR. Lawmakers approved many exceptions to wetland protections to accommodate Foxconn. Wisconsin must do better to protect its natural beauty. When choosing between protecting the environment and increasing corporate profits, the answer should not always be to help the corporations at the expense of our environment.