Gov. Snyder Signs $28 Million Spending Bill For Flint Aid

A state legislative leader from Flint says the suggestion that the public also could drink from the water coolers is “insulting”.

MI began offering fresh bottled water to its workers after a notice, which was also sent to city residents, stated that the tap water “had unacceptable levels of total trihalomethanes-a chlorine byproduct that can cause cancer”, according to Vox. Michigan DEQ Director Dan Wyant resigned in December after acknowledging officials failed to require the city to use needed corrosion control chemicals when they switched the source of their supply to Lake Huron water treated by Detroit to Flint River water treated at the Flint water treatment plant.

We know last January the department of technology, management and budget offices installed water coolers because employees had concerns about the city’s water quality. In January of previous year, the Snyder administration told Flint residents their water was safe to drink.

The agency that manages state buildings said Thursday coolers were introduced at the building after Flint flunked some drinking water standards unrelated to lead. Meanwhile, the political money trail shows Flood has donated thousands of dollars over the years to the campaigns of Schuette and Gov. Rick Snyder, both Republicans, as well as a GOP-affiliated political action committee. A previous $9.3 million package was approved in October 2015 to reconnect Flint to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, provide filters and water testing to residents, aid in follow-up health services for children and assist with plumbing inspections at schools and health facilities.

“It appears the state wasn’t as slow as we first thought in responding the Flint Water Crisis”, said Scott in a statement.

The Michigan Legislature has unanimously approved $28 million in additional funding to address the lead contamination of Flint’s water. As a result, toxic water from the Flint River corroded the pipes, causing lead to leech into the tap water.

In 2014, government officials looked to save money by switching from Detroit to the Karegnondi Water Authority.

The EPA’s regional administrator, Susan Hedman, is stepping down after this week for her office’s lack of oversight of the DEQ and Flint’s water treatment. There are also funds to hire outside experts to figure out whether Flint’s water infrastructure needs to be completely replaced. The two lawmakers say officials must hear from everyone involved to understand how the crisis in Flint occurred and how a similar problem can be prevented. Another state spokesman said earlier it was provided continuously in the building.

Neeley says this was going on as residents were told the water is safe.

It is the second round of state funding allocated since the lead contamination was confirmed in the fall.

In a related story, just a day after a coalition of environmental and civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit against the state demanding it replace all of the lead pipes in Flint’s water system, Michigan Senate Democrats are seeking to do the same.