Email Suggests Officials Knew of Link Between Flint Water and Legionnaires Outbreak

Gov. Rick Snyder is seeking an economic disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration for Flint and Genesee County as the city struggles with lead-tainted water.

Michigan’s Democratic senators, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, proposed last week that Congress authorize up to $600 million in emergency aid to Flint.

The vote was 46-50, short of a number necessary to move ahead on the bipartisan legislation, the first such bill in nine years.

Democratic Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said, “100,000 people in Flint, Michigan have been poisoned, but sadly Republicans are doing nothing”. Cornyn says it’s premature to write a “blank check” for Flint when state officials have not fully assessed their needs.

The energy bill would have taken steps to speed permitting of liquefied natural gas facilities, fund research into advanced nuclear reactors and protect the power grid from cyber attacks.

Other emails show Henry had reached out to the state in October 2014 to raise the alarm, and that he had filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the city of Flint to get water testing results for various bacteria at the water treatment plan.

At the time of publication, McLaren Flint had not responded to a request for comment. “The majority of the cases reside or have an association with the city”, Jim Henry, Genesee County’s environmental health supervisor, wrote March 10 to Flint leaders, the city’s state-appointed emergency financial manager and the state Department of Environmental Quality, known as the DEQ. Some children’s blood has tested positive for lead, a potent neurotoxin linked to learning disabilities, lower IQ and behavioral problems. However, Senate Democrats have drawn a line in the sand and have deemed this opportunity a vital opportunity for providing federal aid beyond the $80 million granted by President Obama. It’s not clear how much money would go to Flint.

The attorney also said that Earley had no knowledge of any contaminated water during his tenure, and that he will be willing to answer questions soon.

Flint resident Jessica Owens shows Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Tim Scott of SC, also voted with the Democrats.

Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said the committee will seek her deposition about the agency’s response to the Flint scandal.

“A hospital won’t make money if it discloses a Legionnaires’ outbreak from contaminated water, and a governor will stop hearing whispers that he’s being considered for higher office if he reveals a water and Legionnaires’ crisis”, lawyer Geoffrey Fieger said in a statement cited by NBC.