Republicans block cleanup until polluters get immunity
June 18, 2024 6:55 AM Subscribe
From Tom Perkins in The Guardian: Wisconsin Republicans are withholding $125m designated for cleanup of widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water and have said they will only release the funds in exchange for immunity for polluters. The move is part of a broader effort by Republicans in the state to steal power from the Democratic governor, Tony Evers, the funding’s supporters say, alleging such “political games” are putting residents’ health at risk.
“People really feel like they’re being held hostage,” said Lee Donahue, mayor of Campbell, which is part of the La Crosse metropolitan area and has drinking water contaminated with astronomical levels of PFAS. “It’s ridiculous, and some would argue that it’s criminal, that they are withholding money from communities in dire need of clean drinking water.”
PFAS are a class of chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products water-, stain- and heat-resistant. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down, and they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans’ and animals’ bodies. The compounds are linked to cancer, decreased immunity, thyroid problems, birth defects, kidney disease, liver problems and a range of other serious illnesses.
In other news about PFAS, outdoor clothing brands are still using ‘forever chemicals’ despite health risk, according to Guardian reporter James Tapper.
PFAS are a global issue. In early 2023, the Forever Pollution Project released the results of a unique collaborative cross-border and cross-field investigation by 16 European newsrooms. The investigation showed that nearly 23,000 sites all over Europe are contaminated by PFAS. It also uncovered an additional 21,500 presumptive contamination sites due to current or past industrial activity. The dataset behind the Map of Forever Pollution is freely available thanks to French newspaper Le Monde.
US nonprofit Clean Water Action recommends 10 actions to help reduce your exposure to PFAS (oddly, refusing to vote for Republicans is not one of them).
Previously: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: PFAs.
“People really feel like they’re being held hostage,” said Lee Donahue, mayor of Campbell, which is part of the La Crosse metropolitan area and has drinking water contaminated with astronomical levels of PFAS. “It’s ridiculous, and some would argue that it’s criminal, that they are withholding money from communities in dire need of clean drinking water.”
PFAS are a class of chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products water-, stain- and heat-resistant. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t naturally break down, and they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans’ and animals’ bodies. The compounds are linked to cancer, decreased immunity, thyroid problems, birth defects, kidney disease, liver problems and a range of other serious illnesses.
In other news about PFAS, outdoor clothing brands are still using ‘forever chemicals’ despite health risk, according to Guardian reporter James Tapper.
PFAS are a global issue. In early 2023, the Forever Pollution Project released the results of a unique collaborative cross-border and cross-field investigation by 16 European newsrooms. The investigation showed that nearly 23,000 sites all over Europe are contaminated by PFAS. It also uncovered an additional 21,500 presumptive contamination sites due to current or past industrial activity. The dataset behind the Map of Forever Pollution is freely available thanks to French newspaper Le Monde.
US nonprofit Clean Water Action recommends 10 actions to help reduce your exposure to PFAS (oddly, refusing to vote for Republicans is not one of them).
Previously: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: PFAs.
One step further on the arc from pro wrestling heels to comic-book supervillains.
posted by box at 7:27 AM on June 18 [14 favorites]
posted by box at 7:27 AM on June 18 [14 favorites]
This is literally terrorism.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:31 AM on June 18 [23 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:31 AM on June 18 [23 favorites]
These people really seem to think that if they're the leopard, their faces can't be eaten. It's stunningly short-sighted.
posted by foxtongue at 7:44 AM on June 18 [7 favorites]
posted by foxtongue at 7:44 AM on June 18 [7 favorites]
And what are the odds that once the firms get immunity they keep blocking the cleanup for well pick any reason really.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:48 AM on June 18 [27 favorites]
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:48 AM on June 18 [27 favorites]
Go ahead... keep telling the people who you really are. Y'know, for those who haven't been paying attention for the last 50 years or don't understand "subtlety."
posted by kokaku at 7:57 AM on June 18 [9 favorites]
posted by kokaku at 7:57 AM on June 18 [9 favorites]
Go ahead... keep telling the people who you really are. Y'know, for those who haven't been paying attention for the last 50 years or don't understand "subtlety."
You mean professional Democrats? Don't worry, they never seem to learn the lesson.
posted by Pedantzilla at 8:07 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
You mean professional Democrats? Don't worry, they never seem to learn the lesson.
posted by Pedantzilla at 8:07 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
If I walked on to a Republican politician's property and pissed in their ornamental pond -- you know, the one near the gazebo, out behind the guest house -- they would consider that grounds for shooting me. Summary execution. But if a corporation poisons everyone's drinking water, that's just the cost of maximizing shareholder value.
posted by pracowity at 8:15 AM on June 18 [36 favorites]
posted by pracowity at 8:15 AM on June 18 [36 favorites]
You’d think that the people who want more births would be opposed to PFAS but yet.
posted by corb at 8:39 AM on June 18 [21 favorites]
posted by corb at 8:39 AM on June 18 [21 favorites]
One step further on the arc from pro wrestling heels to comic-book supervillains.
Yeah, it's really amazing (and terrifying, given how little attention the average voter seems to give) how much Republicans have abandoned any sort of rational fig-leaf of principles and are leaning heavily into "just be evil as fuck".
It's like they watched the "Are we the baddies?" sketch and thought Mitchell and Webb were excited about the realization.
posted by Ickster at 8:47 AM on June 18 [9 favorites]
Yeah, it's really amazing (and terrifying, given how little attention the average voter seems to give) how much Republicans have abandoned any sort of rational fig-leaf of principles and are leaning heavily into "just be evil as fuck".
It's like they watched the "Are we the baddies?" sketch and thought Mitchell and Webb were excited about the realization.
posted by Ickster at 8:47 AM on June 18 [9 favorites]
The use of the Joint Finance Committee in this way is interesting as it is another example of the conservative constitutional theory of, "This works because I said so". Who releases the money? Like, who is the single person who authorizes the transfer, pushes the button, writes the check? Why is that person giving this power to the Joint Finance Committee?
posted by Slackermagee at 9:01 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
posted by Slackermagee at 9:01 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
Wisconsin has been giving me a strong Lord of the Flies vibe over the last decade or so.
posted by Sphinx at 9:08 AM on June 18 [7 favorites]
posted by Sphinx at 9:08 AM on June 18 [7 favorites]
And they've got plenty of actual flies, to boot.
posted by credulous at 9:21 AM on June 18 [1 favorite]
posted by credulous at 9:21 AM on June 18 [1 favorite]
I'm curious how the Republicans here are framing this. The article puts it in the context of a power struggle with the Democrat governor. Is this immunity thing just a pretext for this struggle? I can't imagine telling their own voters they are fighting to keep big companies from being sued for poisoning their state is a winning message.
posted by star gentle uterus at 9:31 AM on June 18 [4 favorites]
posted by star gentle uterus at 9:31 AM on June 18 [4 favorites]
These people really seem to think that if they're the leopard, their faces can't be eaten.
It's the role of the left to eat their faces well beforehand. We're failing on that.
posted by ryanshepard at 9:39 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
It's the role of the left to eat their faces well beforehand. We're failing on that.
posted by ryanshepard at 9:39 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
yesterday I posted a comment in the Free Thread re: the "kids peeing in cat boxes" lie that has been getting around for the past 3 years, supposedly schools are catering to The Woke and permitting students who "identify as cats" to do their bathroom in litterboxes in school
this may have started as a joke in PEI Canada of all places but it got picked up by the usual suspects and I'm hearing it at dinner tables and in my goddamn work chat yesterday, people are convinced that this shit is true
so forgive the derail, but there are people in the world who will do anything for a buck, and beyond that they will do anything for the pure hateful flex of it all. we can't be surprised anymore, that's for another time in the past when horrible things might horrify or shock. of course these evil pricks will poison themselves and others, to make a point
posted by elkevelvet at 9:41 AM on June 18 [15 favorites]
this may have started as a joke in PEI Canada of all places but it got picked up by the usual suspects and I'm hearing it at dinner tables and in my goddamn work chat yesterday, people are convinced that this shit is true
so forgive the derail, but there are people in the world who will do anything for a buck, and beyond that they will do anything for the pure hateful flex of it all. we can't be surprised anymore, that's for another time in the past when horrible things might horrify or shock. of course these evil pricks will poison themselves and others, to make a point
posted by elkevelvet at 9:41 AM on June 18 [15 favorites]
"You mean professional Democrats? Don't worry, they never seem to learn the lesson."
Um, it's in the story who is responsible, and yea, it's not Gov Evers or his party. Sheesh.
posted by WatTylerJr at 10:35 AM on June 18 [9 favorites]
Um, it's in the story who is responsible, and yea, it's not Gov Evers or his party. Sheesh.
posted by WatTylerJr at 10:35 AM on June 18 [9 favorites]
I thought the litter thing was true but for more horrifying reasons. My recollection was it was for when younger kids need to use the bathroom during a active shooter lockdown and not letting them do so may lead to crying/complaining/tantrums/etc, which would signal to the shooter that targets are inside the room.
Though that may be entirely made up as well
posted by Slackermagee at 10:40 AM on June 18 [7 favorites]
Though that may be entirely made up as well
posted by Slackermagee at 10:40 AM on June 18 [7 favorites]
One step further on the arc from pro wrestling heels to comic-book supervillains.
Vermont Republican secretly poured water into colleague’s bag over months
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:49 AM on June 18 [8 favorites]
Vermont Republican secretly poured water into colleague’s bag over months
A Vermont lawmaker was compelled to apologize publicly after being caught on video pouring water into her colleague’s work bag multiple times across several months.
[...]
The Republican representative, Mary Morrissey, 67, confessed to dumping water in the bag of the Democratic legislator Jim Carroll, 62. She later apologized during a Vermont state house session on Monday, Boston.com reported.
[...]
Carroll says he first suspected Morrissey as she had been “nasty” to him for several months despite the two knowing each other since childhood and even attending the same church.
“[She] would say demeaning things in front of other legislators,” Carroll said.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:49 AM on June 18 [8 favorites]
My recollection was it was for when younger kids need to use the bathroom during a active shooter lockdown and not letting them do so may lead to crying/complaining/tantrums/etc, which would signal to the shooter that targets are inside the room.
We really do live in a pretty close approximation of hell.
posted by ryanshepard at 11:40 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
We really do live in a pretty close approximation of hell.
posted by ryanshepard at 11:40 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]
"You mean professional Democrats? Don't worry, they never seem to learn the lesson."
Um, it's in the story who is responsible, and yea, it's not Gov Evers or his party. Sheesh.
I'm no expert but the first comment seems fair to me. Dems never learned the lesson that the Republicans really truly wanted to dismantle Roe v. Wade, and in the same way they never learned the right lesson on the environment. We've known that the world is heading for environmental catastrophe for maybe four or five decades now, but for most of that time many elected Democrats have been part of the problem, being beholden financially to big polluters in oil, mining, chemicals, pharma, real estate, etc.; supporting ineffective market-based solutions rather than advocating for aggressive state-sponsored approaches to climate change mitigation; kowtowing to Manchin; etc. I mean, thank goodness for the Dems who've pushed hard on the environment, but that Republicans have been far worse on the issue does not mean that Democrats on the whole could not and should not have done more.
posted by Lyme Drop at 12:28 PM on June 18 [12 favorites]
Um, it's in the story who is responsible, and yea, it's not Gov Evers or his party. Sheesh.
I'm no expert but the first comment seems fair to me. Dems never learned the lesson that the Republicans really truly wanted to dismantle Roe v. Wade, and in the same way they never learned the right lesson on the environment. We've known that the world is heading for environmental catastrophe for maybe four or five decades now, but for most of that time many elected Democrats have been part of the problem, being beholden financially to big polluters in oil, mining, chemicals, pharma, real estate, etc.; supporting ineffective market-based solutions rather than advocating for aggressive state-sponsored approaches to climate change mitigation; kowtowing to Manchin; etc. I mean, thank goodness for the Dems who've pushed hard on the environment, but that Republicans have been far worse on the issue does not mean that Democrats on the whole could not and should not have done more.
posted by Lyme Drop at 12:28 PM on June 18 [12 favorites]
You're so right. I am furious about all the kowtowing to Manchin. It's juat palm fronds and salaams every day.
posted by hypnogogue at 12:55 PM on June 18 [1 favorite]
posted by hypnogogue at 12:55 PM on June 18 [1 favorite]
I'm not a fan of a world where Democrats get blamed for not sufficently protecting us from Republican shitfuckery.
Could the Democrats do better protecting citizens from villany? Sure but that treats the shitfuckery as the status quo, instead of deliberately horrible decisions.
Also yes, it was active shooters that led to folks having kitty litter for kids, they just twisted the story, anything to avoid talking about gun violence and attack trans people.
posted by Chrysopoeia at 1:23 PM on June 18 [19 favorites]
Could the Democrats do better protecting citizens from villany? Sure but that treats the shitfuckery as the status quo, instead of deliberately horrible decisions.
Also yes, it was active shooters that led to folks having kitty litter for kids, they just twisted the story, anything to avoid talking about gun violence and attack trans people.
posted by Chrysopoeia at 1:23 PM on June 18 [19 favorites]
Ok, yea, thats all true Lyme Drop, but it's the freaking Wisconsin republicans doing the awful things described in the article, not the democrats. Yes, Joe Manchin, Sinema and all the useless the corporate hack dems are shit, but it's NOT the democrats in Wisconsin or elsewhere doing this awful thing. So, I really do not think the point made that I responded to is fair. Evers and the Wise dems are fighting against this, not the evildoers.
posted by WatTylerJr at 1:25 PM on June 18 [8 favorites]
posted by WatTylerJr at 1:25 PM on June 18 [8 favorites]
These people are accomplices in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice. Arrest and try them.
posted by ob1quixote at 1:28 PM on June 18 [2 favorites]
posted by ob1quixote at 1:28 PM on June 18 [2 favorites]
I was around when what they call the "left" in this country imploded with McGovern vs (Richard) Nixon in '72 ("Don't change Dicks in the middle of a screw, vote for Nixon in '72!).
Which set it up for Regan. And so on.
And I had to listen to the next few decades of bullshit from the left on how maybe the people don't want that kind of thing anymore. Maybe they're finally getting over it but there's still a lot of debris left.
(or maybe enough Boomers who were left then became right are dying off...or)
posted by aleph at 2:11 PM on June 18
Which set it up for Regan. And so on.
And I had to listen to the next few decades of bullshit from the left on how maybe the people don't want that kind of thing anymore. Maybe they're finally getting over it but there's still a lot of debris left.
(or maybe enough Boomers who were left then became right are dying off...or)
posted by aleph at 2:11 PM on June 18
I'm not a fan of a world where Democrats get blamed for not sufficently protecting us from Republican shitfuckery.
Quoted for truth. In related Republican shitfuckery, "...Senate Republicans acted to keep an appointee of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker on the state’s Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the DNR. That appointee, while holding onto his seat for more than a year after his term expired, helped prevent the creation of a standard that would limit the amount of PFAS that is allowed in groundwater," according to the Wisconsin Examiner.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:32 PM on June 18 [12 favorites]
Quoted for truth. In related Republican shitfuckery, "...Senate Republicans acted to keep an appointee of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker on the state’s Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the DNR. That appointee, while holding onto his seat for more than a year after his term expired, helped prevent the creation of a standard that would limit the amount of PFAS that is allowed in groundwater," according to the Wisconsin Examiner.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:32 PM on June 18 [12 favorites]
At least there's this:
The Evers administration announced in late May that it would sue the committee for withholding the funds and make a constitutional separation of powers claim. It charges the JFC’s withholding is “an unconstitutional legislative veto”. Republican leadership did not immediately return a request for comment.
And wow, that outdoor clothing brand article will not make hikers and campers happy, esp since one of the items at the other link to the "10 things" list is "try to avoid products and fabrics with a Scotchguard or Goretex coating."
Thanks, Bella Donna, for a thoughtful environmental post.
(Also, Wikipedia has a good page on the litter boxes thing if folks need a refresher.)
posted by mediareport at 2:50 PM on June 18 [5 favorites]
The Evers administration announced in late May that it would sue the committee for withholding the funds and make a constitutional separation of powers claim. It charges the JFC’s withholding is “an unconstitutional legislative veto”. Republican leadership did not immediately return a request for comment.
And wow, that outdoor clothing brand article will not make hikers and campers happy, esp since one of the items at the other link to the "10 things" list is "try to avoid products and fabrics with a Scotchguard or Goretex coating."
Thanks, Bella Donna, for a thoughtful environmental post.
(Also, Wikipedia has a good page on the litter boxes thing if folks need a refresher.)
posted by mediareport at 2:50 PM on June 18 [5 favorites]
I grew up in Michigan and it is possible I may have described Wisconsin as Michigan's Alcoholic Evil Mirror-Universe Twin on one or two occasions.
It was a weak joke, Wisconsinites, not a challenge!
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:51 PM on June 18 [5 favorites]
It was a weak joke, Wisconsinites, not a challenge!
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:51 PM on June 18 [5 favorites]
I'm not a fan of a world where Democrats get blamed for not sufficently protecting us from Republican shitfuckery
I have no objection at all to Democrats being blamed for that, because in almost all cases it's simply the plain truth; they don't sufficiently protect the world from Republican shitfuckery.
What drives me up the fucking wall is the repeatedly demonstrated willingness of so many to react to that simple truth by voting Republican instead of getting on the phone to their inadequate local Democrat and giving them an earful and/or working on getting a better one elected in the primaries.
"All politicians are the same" is the best talking point that the Leopards Eating People's Faces Party ever invented.
posted by flabdablet at 4:19 PM on June 18 [9 favorites]
I have no objection at all to Democrats being blamed for that, because in almost all cases it's simply the plain truth; they don't sufficiently protect the world from Republican shitfuckery.
What drives me up the fucking wall is the repeatedly demonstrated willingness of so many to react to that simple truth by voting Republican instead of getting on the phone to their inadequate local Democrat and giving them an earful and/or working on getting a better one elected in the primaries.
"All politicians are the same" is the best talking point that the Leopards Eating People's Faces Party ever invented.
posted by flabdablet at 4:19 PM on June 18 [9 favorites]
Is the response, "no immunity AND we're going to burn your fucking mansions down tomorrow"?
Of course not, I don't even have to look.
posted by ctmf at 8:46 PM on June 18 [5 favorites]
Of course not, I don't even have to look.
posted by ctmf at 8:46 PM on June 18 [5 favorites]
Around the EU Nature Restoration Law..
Parliament adopts law to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea
Austrian minister Leonore Gewessler burns bridges to save EU nature law
posted by jeffburdges at 6:37 PM on June 21 [1 favorite]
Parliament adopts law to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea
Austrian minister Leonore Gewessler burns bridges to save EU nature law
posted by jeffburdges at 6:37 PM on June 21 [1 favorite]
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posted by adamrice at 7:19 AM on June 18 [22 favorites]