“Those that can least afford to do this, it is hitting them hard” – U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany on his quest to end emission testing in Wisconsin.
GREENDALE, WI – Congressman and governor candidate Tom Tiffany joined State Rep. Bob Donovan, the Republican Party of Milwaukee County, and Milwaukee-area business leaders “to call for an end to Wisconsin’s vehicle emissions testing requirement,” saying that emission testing is a hardship to hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites.
“Because of federal rules, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin drivers across seven counties must take time out of their day to travel to testing sites and complete mandatory emissions tests every two years just to renew their registration,” Tiffany said.
“Each of us is willing to do our fair share of what the government asks of us, if it makes sense. Well, this doesn’t make sense any longer,” Donovan added at a press conference, standing alongside Tiffany, legislators and more.
“Today’s vehicles are cleaner and more efficient, yet this program remains time-consuming, frustrating, and often places costly repair burdens on those least able to afford them,” Tiffany added. “After 40 years without clear evidence of meaningful impact, it’s time to reconsider this program, and as governor, I will work to end vehicle emissions testing here in Wisconsin.”
Donovan was among a group of legislators who previously wrote a letter urging the end of Wisconsin emission testing. In addition to Donovan, they are state Sens. Van Wanggaard, Julian Bradley, Chris Kapenga, and Rob Hutton; and Reps. Scott Allen, Jim Piwowarczyk, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, Lindee Brill, Barb Dittrich, Cindi Duchow, Rick Gundrum, Dan Knodl, Dave Maxey, Paul Melotik, Chuck Wichgers, Robert Wittke, and Amanda Nedweski.
“In December, a group of WI legislators (including myself) sent a letter to Congress asking them to repeal the vehicle emissions testing requirements for our counties,” Brill wrote, posting a photo of her with Tiffany. “Today, a group of us stood with Tom Tiffany as he also called for an end to it.”
Rep. Tiffany outlined the following steps he would take as governor:
- “Pursue a federal waiver: Work directly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to secure a waiver ending Wisconsin’s outdated emissions testing requirement. Tiffany noted his working relationship with EPA Director Lee Zeldin and his commitment to seeing the effort through.”
- “Address the real sources of pollution: Collaborate with federal officials and neighboring states, including Illinois and Indiana, to confront cross-state emissions that impact Wisconsin, particularly pollution originating from the Chicago area that travels north along Lake Michigan.”
“Wisconsinites should not be penalized by an outdated system that fails to address the real sources of air pollution coming from places like Chicago,” Tiffany added. “It’s time for a smarter approach.”
