Madison, WI – This week, the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Republican controlled Joint Finance Committee objected to a plan to use the first tranche of Wisconsin’s $31 million in National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement funds to combat the state’s opioid epidemic. This objection has delayed the release of the funds to support communities impacted by the opioid epidemic. After the delay, Senator Pfaff (D-Onalaska) released the following statement:
“Too many families in western Wisconsin have been dealing firsthand with the impacts of the opioid epidemic. Wisconsin’s families and communities cannot afford for Republicans to continue to play political games with funding to address our state’s opioid crisis.”
“This funding should be released immediately. Investing in opioid treatment and support for those who are struggling with addiction is of the utmost importance; there is no excuse for Republican legislators to delay these resources that will save lives.”
