Here & Now

Joint Finance Committee Allocates Opioid Settlement Funds

Zac Schultz:

This week the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee approved the allocation of $31 million in opioid settlement funds awarded to the state of Wisconsin. The action comes after Republicans rejected the Department of Health Services proposal last month. Overall the funding will go toward the distribution of Narcan and fentanyl testing strips, medication-assisted treatment, Tribal Nations and law enforcement training. GOP committee members said they agreed with 85% of the original plan but amended it to prioritize funds for law enforcement over family support programs.

Mark Born:

Unfortunately, Josh Kaul and Tony Evers continues to turn their back on law enforcement and does not want to work with these people in public safety in our communities. Legislative Republicans will always stand with them and that’s an important part of today’s plan.

Shannon Zimmerman:

I think it’s negligent in this situation if we don’t speak with law enforcement. I called the sheriff of St. Croix County, the sheriff of Pierce County and every chief and law enforcement leader I knew in my district and asked them the questions about what is happening on the frontline.

Jon Erpenbach:

Family centers, the money was cut and obviously moved over to the law enforcement side of things. I can tell you, the amount of questions a family has when somebody is going through the struggles of addiction. It doesn’t matter if it’s alcoholism or opioids or whatever the case may be. There are a million places to turn to but there aren’t any to turn to. Families don’t know where to go. The more rural you are in this state, the tougher it is to get answers. So these are really important. These will help the stability of the family unit. These will help the family members deal and better understand the addiction.