Released Snyder Emails Include One Confirming State OK’d Switch to River

Speaking at a joint General Motors-United Auto Workers facility, Obama opened his speech criticizing the water contamination in Flint, which has spurred accusations of government negligence and cover-ups. The president said he would be beside himself if his children’s health were put at risk. “It is a reminder of why you can’t shortchange basic services that we provide to our people”.

Kinney, who has lived in Flint since she was a child, told Martin, “The water crisis has impact[ed] us to the point that we can not take baths, we can not brush our teeth, and the water that we were receiving prior to now was so bad and smelled so bad you wouldn’t believe it”.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is asking President Barack Obama to reconsider the denial of his request for a federal disaster declaration in Flint. He continued, saying that its “severity warrants special consideration” for all government aid programs available for both public and individual recovery efforts as well as hazard mitigation assistance.

Flint’s water became contaminated with too much lead when the city switched its water source in 2014 as a cost-cutting measure while under state financial management. Corrosive water from the river, known locally as a dumping ground, caused more lead to leach from Flint pipes than Detroit water did. Snyder argued to the contrary. “Brown water complaints may also be attributable to cast iron pipes in customers’ service connection to the city lines”, the backgrounder read.

In his appeal letter, Snyder called the decision a “narrow reading” and likened the crisis to a flood, “given that qualities within the water, over a long term, damaged the city’s infrastructure in ways that were not immediately or easily detectable”. “Let’s focus in on the solution and how to deal with the damage that was done and help the citizens of Flint and make Flint a stronger community”.

With the cost of switching Flint’s system back to Detroit water, the total cost so far is $37 million.

February 3: State officials pledge $2 million for Flint’s troubled water system.

Gov. Rick Snyder released 274 pages of 2014-15 emails related to the Flint water crisis. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill, but it could reach the governor’s desk by next week.

Snyder said the state of MI already has dedicated $9 million to making sure people get bottled water, and for replacing fixtures in schools and treating children with elevated lead levels.

“I’m responsible for this because they do work for me”.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was in Washington, DC meeting with White House officials, congressional representatives and others to drum up support for her city.

The Obama administration also provided additional capital to help Chrysler and GM continue operating as they restructured operations before and during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.

“Our resources are being sent to Flint as we speak…but it’s not enough”.

“Right now it’s going to address the very short term immediate things that we need”, said Phelps.

Weaver and other officials have suggested “tapping into the state’s emergency Budget Stabilization Fund, which has a balance of $498 million at present, or the state’s budget surplus, estimated to be next fiscal year $575 million”, according to the Detroit Free Press. He said he met with Flint’s mayor the day before and promised federal help.

Obama declared an emergency – qualifying the city for $5 million.

Flint’s 100,000 residents are unable to drink unfiltered tap water. “It’s ironic when you live in the “Great Lake State” and you don’t have access to clean water”. I can not have anyone associated with Inside Michigan Politics who minimizes the impact of this awful public health disaster that will impact people’s lives for decades to come. “Well, we know the buck stops with the governor”.