MADISON, WI – This morning, Representative Jenna Jacobson and Senator Brad Pfaff held a press conference highlighting the latest hypocrisy of Senator Howard Marklein, who opposes the new construction of transmission lines in an election year but does the exact opposite in the legislature.
During budget negotiations, Senator Marklein removed a six-month extension for planning and community outreach concerning transmission line construction from Governor Evers’ budget. Additionally, Senator Marklein failed to support legislation sponsored by Senators Keyeski and Pfaff, which would have directed the Public Service Commissioners to focus on existing corridors and underground facilities over newly mapped routes.
Representative Jenna Jacobson on Howard Marklein’s failure to protect his constituents:
“These transmission lines didn’t sneak up on Howard Marklein.
Residents in Western Wisconsin, in Howard’s district, have been speaking up for months and have heard very little from the Senator until he felt political pressure to say something.
Ironically, Howard has been through this before. In 2019, his district fought against the Cardinal Hickory Transmission Line that went right through Iowa and Grant counties.
But just as they’ve been for all his years in Madison, Howard Marklein’s talk isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Senator Brad Pfaff on the lackluster letter written by Congressman Derick Van Orten, signed by Senator Marklein, and sent to Governor Evers:
“Senator Marklein is Chair of the Joint Finance Committee for the last 6 years; in the last three budgets, he knows that this letter has no substance, has no meaning.
He knows that he is asking the Governor to do the job that the people of Western Wisconsin elected Senator Marklein to do.
It’s the job of a state senator not to hide and run when the times get tough. You don’t just put your name on a meaningless letter, put together by a congressman who isn’t fully engaged in this issue, and then all of a sudden say that that’s enough.”
