Obama takes credit for resurgent US auto industry

President Obama reassured the people of MI that he’s “got Flint’s back” Wednesday, during a visit with representatives from Detroit’s auto industry. “And I know that if I was a parent up there, I would be beside myself that my kids’ health could be at risk”.

Gov. Rick Snyder asked Obama on Wednesday to reconsider his denial of a federal disaster declaration to address the drinking water crisis, saying its severity poses an “imminent and long-term threat” to residents. Corrosive water from the river, known locally as a dumping ground, caused more lead to leach from Flint pipes than Detroit water did.

The city’s water became contaminated with lead after it switched its water source in 2014 as a cost-cutting measure while under state financial management.

It was due to the efforts of a volunteer team of researchers from Virginia Tech university that first alerted authorities of the high levels of lead in Flint’s water.

The president said he toured the auto show and has confidence in the comeback of the domestic auto industry from near collapse in 2009 thanks to the federal rescue.

“The president is absolutely determined to figure out what went wrong, generally speaking”, White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters traveling with Obama on Air Force One.

Obama has cast the federal government’s $80 billion bailout of USA automakers General Motors and Chrysler as a defining part of his transportation legacy throughout his entire presidency.

Obama is portraying himself as a leader who doesn’t take the easy way out. Obama said to reporters and photographers. Although Flint has now switched back to Detroit’s water system, lead levels in the city’s water are still elevated.

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.

Most Americans opposed providing a second round of government aid.