Michigan Governor Announces Plan to Fix Toxic Water Crisis

Weaver spoke after an informational hearing Wednesday on Flint led by Democratic lawmakers.

“The email seems to reflect someone summarizing a discussion at a meeting, and we are unsure what actually was said there”, Snyder Press Secretary Dave Murray said.

On the House floor Wednesday, Upton called the bill “an important first step” in responding to the crisis in Flint.

Flint’s water source was moved from the Detroit water system to the Flint River in April 2014 as a cost-saving measure.

On the other hand, supporters of recalling the Republican over Flint’s supply of corrosive river water pleaded with the board, asking members to ignore the “minor mistakes”. Emails show that government officials knew about problems with Flint’s water even while they publicly encouraged people to keep drinking from the tap.

Interestingly, the law school had decided last week to cancel the panel, but people made a decision to protest anyway, calling for Snyder’s resignation due to the Flint water crisis, Caitlin Reedy and Riyah Basha report at The Michigan Daily.

U.S. Agriculture officials also announced Wednesday that at least 28 Flint-area schools are eligible for a program providing access to school meals to all students. In a December 29 letter to Gov. Rick Snyder, a task force he appointed to investigate the Flint water crisis faulted the DEQ for a “single-minded legalistic” reading of the federal rule.

“The state DEQ is committed to having a good working relationship with the county and all partners at the local, state and federal level who are collaborating to ensure safe drinking water for the residents of Flint”, said DEQ spokeswoman Mel Brown.

“They should have alerted the schools and they didn’t”, Henry said.

Kildee is expected in introduced the Familes of Flint Act to get more more money for residents.

USA regulators say MI officials ignored federal advice to treat Flint water for corrosion-causing elements a year ago and delayed for months before telling the public about the health risks. Kildee said Donovan “likes the direction” of the bill “but has some suggestions” on how it could be improved. For many households already using filters, they now must boil the water says Newser.

The proposal includes $25 million for infrastructure needs specific to Flint, which is grappling with lead-contaminated water.

Without the Governor, the hearing pressed on in an attempt to explain the crisis for the rest of the nation to comprehend.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said she was “mad as hell” about the events in Flint and linked it to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

Rick Snyder is interviewed after visited a church that’s distributing water and filters to its predominantly Latino parishioners in Flint, Mich. Snyder will propose spending $195 million more to address Flint’s water crisis and another $165 million updating infrastructure across the state in response to lead contamination overwhelming the city. The GOP-controlled Legislature will consider the legislation in the coming months and likely approve a plan in early June. Budget director John Roberts said his recommended amount for pipe replacement is a starting point and could grow once a full analysis is done and all the underground service lines are found in the city of almost 100,000 people.

“It’s really up to Congress what path they want to follow”, he said. In fact, there are provisions of the Clean Water Act that provide for criminal prosecutions for violations that can result in fines and imprisonment.

“This is an issue that can’t go unaddressed”, she said.

State officials have not released any additional information about the condition of the two dogs that were poisoned by the tainted water, NBC News reported.