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Some progress seen on lead abatement plans
Gov. Tony Evers' platform in the 2018 campaign included a four-point plan for prioritizing lead testing across Wisconsin.
The emphasis came as the state — most notably Milwaukee — faced aging infrastructure that leaves children exposed to damaging lead. Wisconsin has more than 176,000 lead service lines that carry water to homes and more than 350,000 homes with lead paint hazards, according to the governor's office.
In Milwaukee, about 3,000 of the 25,000 children tested for lead each year have elevated levels, and a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study released in October 2019 found a connection between childhood lead exposure and gun violence in later years.
None of Evers' proposals from this first budget were adopted – and in some cases, the governor did not propose anything to address the four main points he promoted during the campaign.
His second budget proposed $36 million in state and federal funds for lead abatement in certain homes, grants for abatement training, public health outreach and state staff to focus on the issue. The Republican Legislature reduced the number and scope, but $14 million was still approved to fund lead abatement in homes occupied by low-income children and pregnant women eligible for government assistance.
In a separate move in July 2019, Evers created a lead pollution czar by executive order, tasking that position within the state Department of Health Services with coordinating efforts to reduce exposure from paint, pipes and other sources.
So, some progress in the general area was made.
But the central elements of the promise have not been put in place, including his planned tax credits, school-based intervention program and opportunities for local governments to exceed levy limits to replace lead water pipes.
With the end of his first term at hand, we rate this one Compromise.
Our Sources
PolitiFact Wisconsin