Article by Fox 11 News
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Clean drinking water is taking center-stage in the state budget debate.
Gov. Tony Evers (D-Wisconsin) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary-designee Preston Cole stopped in Northeast Wisconsin to highlight water quality plans.
"This is dire straits. It's a human health issue," Cole said.
Cole toured the NEW Water facility to learn more about its clean water programs and to draw attention to clean water proposals in the state budget.
"Communities around the state of Wisconsin aren't all thriving when it comes to drinking water. However, help is on the way," Cole said.
Under the proposed state budget, Evers wants the state to borrow nearly $70,000,00 to fight water pollution and help communities replace lead pipes.
"People of Wisconsin get it. They don't want to drink contaminated water and they don't want to recreate in contaminated water," Evers said.
Evers stopped in Green Bay to talk about transportation issues but he also spoke about his water initiatives. His budget plan includes a proposal to add staff to the DNR to research water quality issues and regulate large farms.
"In order to have good healthy water for us to drink, we need to have scientists in place to help us get there," Evers said.
While the Republican-controlled Legislature has been largely critical of Evers' budget, he is hoping for some common ground on water.
"I think there's going to be widespread support for this," Evers said.
"This may be an area where things aren't as far-fetched as many other areas in the governor's budget," said State Sen. Andre Jacque (R-1st District).
Jacque is a member of the newly formed legislative task force on water quality. He says he thinks both sides can come together to address water quality but it may be done outside of the budget process.
"I would imagine that at least in terms of what the Legislature will propose back to the governor that you will see some very significant clean water initiatives that will probably also be looking at doing as stand-alone legislation as well because I don't know how long it's going to take to get there on the budget," Jacque said.
