FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 16th, 2016
CONTACT: Kerry Schumann, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, 608-208-1123
(office)
Kerry@conservationvoters.org

Death by a Thousand Straws (AB 874)
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Statement

MADISON, WI -- Today, the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry held an
executive session committee vote on Death by a Thousand Straws, AB 874. The high
capacity well bill was voted out of committee by a 7-6 vote, and will be on the floor of the full
Assembly on Thursday. In response, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Executive
Director, Kerry Schumann, issued the following statement:

"From the start, the intent of the Death by a Thousand Straws Bill has been
clear. Big Ag has lobbied legislators to advance the interests of their thirsty
clients at the expense of the states valuable groundwater and the many people
who rely on it.

"Today, in the year 2016, there are people whose drinking water wells are
running dry and lakes and rivers are drying up because high capacity wells are
over pumping our groundwater supply. Yet, Death by a Thousand Straws
moves forward and heads to the floor of the Assembly later this week.

"We are very concerned that, despite an outpouring of opposition from
thousands of Wisconsinites, including many who are directly impacted by loss
of groundwater, legislators chose to listen to special interests rather than their
constituents. We have a real groundwater crisis in this state and Death by a
Thousand Straws not only refuses to address this problem – it makes it so we
can never reach a commonsense, bipartisan solution.
The people of Wisconsin -- especially those affected by careless and
irresponsible groundwater management -- deserve better."

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters was disappointed to see Representatives Mursau,
Krug, Czaja, Kitchens, Swearingen, Edming, and R. Brooks vote in favor of AB 874 during
the executive session committee vote. Representatives Mason, Milroy, Hebl, Stuck,
Considine, and Allen voted against the bill.

Full Press Release as PDF File