As I See It
306 days and counting
They’re not doing anything anyway, so they may as well head back to work. Wisconsin state representatives serving in the Assembly and Senate are done working for the year. Not because they got all their work done, but because they decided campaigning is more important than governing. Now, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is calling Republican lawmakers back into a special session, asking them to release already-approved funding to fight PFAS contamination in the state. $125 million designed to help communities like French Island deal with their pollution problem was approved by lawmakers almost a year ago. But they still haven’t come up with plans for how to spend it, so the money is languishing in Madison, far from those who need help. Evers called the members of the Joint Finance Committee into a special session three weeks ago, but not one Republican member showed up. Not only did they not attend, but they didn’t say why they skipped, or offer any alternative plans of their own. And they have given no indication when they plan to release the PFAS money, if at all. Our vacationing lawmakers should get back to Madison, get back to work, and come up with a plan to spend the money they have already set aside.
Nick
May 8, 2024 at 7:32 am
They should not be paid; in this case , the Republicans who run things.
The Republican treatment of this issue is INHUMANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walden
May 8, 2024 at 2:42 pm
How tiresome. Shaw has printed a dozen or more “thoughts” on this matter and still can’t even start with a factual presentation. The Repub legislature authorized spending $125 million of PFAS support if the Evers administration would put forth a plan on where it would be spent. Evers has refused to present his spending plan, contrary to what this editorial says.
Evers apparently wants to spend the money but won’t say where. True to character, WIZM prostrates itself for Evers but oddly has no opinion on where the money should be spent.
The legislature should be thanked for holding Evers accountable.
Meanwhile the City of La Crosse, which caused the pollution and should be held accountable, is never mentioned by the media.
R Head
May 8, 2024 at 5:45 pm
What ever bill they pass numb nuts Evers vetos why wast the time with legislation.
LG
May 8, 2024 at 9:51 pm
Scott Robert Shaw, your bias in favor of Democrats and against Republicans continues to show up in your commentary. Since you are also the News Director, your blatant bias concerns me greatly. Even though your role as news Director is toted as separate from your opinion as a commentator, the boundary is blurry. You could alleviate this concern by presenting two sides in the same article.
For example, you could point out the fact that spending the money without a sound plan would be unwise. You could point out how Evers vetos everything Republicans come up with. And after you point out, that Republicans did not put forth a plan of their own, you could explain that Governor Evers has also failed to do so. That’s what objectivity looks like.