Republicans on State's Budget Committee Block Plans on Spending Funds From Opioid Settlement

Thursday, April 25th, 2024 -- 1:01 PM

(Robert D’Andrea, Wisconsin Public Radio) Republicans on the Legislature’s budget committee have blocked a plan from Gov. Tony Evers’ administration for how to spend millions of dollars from a legal settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors. 

According to Robert D'Andrea with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin is due to receive $750 million in total funding through 2038 from a national lawsuit against the pharmaceutical industry.

The state Department of Health Services released a plan for how to spend approximately $36 million in fiscal year 2025. Under a law enacted in 2021, 70 percent must go directly to the counties and municipalities that joined the lawsuits.

DHS is required to submit their plan for spending the remaining 30 percent to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee for approval. The committee has objected to the plans three years in a row. The previous two years, lawmakers ultimately approving variations of the plans.

“An objection has been raised to this request and a meeting with (the JFC) will be scheduled,” committee co-chairs Sen. Howard Marklein and Rep. Mark Born wrote in a letter released Monday. “Therefore, the request is not approved at this time.” The letter did not outline the nature of the objection or any details of a future meeting. 

Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback criticized the move on social media, referencing recent GOP votes that have held up funding for western Wisconsin hospitals and PFAS grants.

“Republicans are on Day 55 of refusing to release crisis response resources to stabilize healthcare access in Western Wisconsin, Day 293 of refusing to release funding to fight PFAS statewide, and are now delaying critical resources to respond to the opioid crisis,” she wrote. “Shameful.”

The proposed opioid settlement spending included $15 million for peer and family support programs for people struggling with opioid addiction, and community prevention programs.

It also included $6 million for tribal nations in Wisconsin, $3.5 million for overdose reversal drug naloxone and $1 million for fentanyl test strips.

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