Gov. Snyder: Clinton politicizing Flint’s water crisis

The Governor is expected to roll out millions in additional relief, even replace all the faucets in the schools.

Snyder declared a state of emergency in Flint earlier this month.

Responding to Weaver’s and Snyder’s cry for federal assistance, which Snyder said would help with temporary housing and home repairs, President Barack Obama also issued a state of emergency Saturday. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now has the authority to provide up to $5 million in federal aid for residents for the next 90 days.

Dozens of people protested outside Snyder’s residence in downtown Ann Arbor Monday afternoon, braving sub-zero temperatures to march there from the nearby University of MI campus. Flint is about more than municipal water practices: It raises important questions about social justice, the role of government and the marginalization of disadvantaged communities.

“All levels of government – federal, state and local – must work together to find solutions for the residents of Flint and to ensure this never happens again”, it added.

Residents of Flint, the city struggling with a poisoned water supply, have filed two new class action lawsuits against the governor and his senior officials – accusing them of failing to protect up to 100,000 people.

Flint residents have complained for some time about the unusual odor and color of the water coming out of their taps, but apparently nothing has been done for as long as a year. And I’m going to continue saying what I’ve been saying: “We need people held accountable”, Weaver told reporters.

While Snyder admitted that the crisis is a disaster, he said the critics calling the crisis as his “Katrina” is not fair. His office is shielded from public record requests under state law.

In Sunday night’s Democratic primary debate, Clinton referenced her response to the water crisis to prove she’s an effective leader.

Following a speaking engagement at a Martin Luther King Day event in Flint, the Republican governor said her tactic doesn’t help solve the problem.

“That’s not an issue that, right now, we’ve been focused on”, Marco Rubio told The Detroit News before a speech just outside Iowa City.

Why it matters: Given the interplay of public health, race and economic inequality, the Flint crisis is ripe for political discussion.

The contamination is believed to have been sparked by unelected emergency manager Darnell Earley’s decision to switch the Flint river water supply from Detroit to the polluted Flint River in April 2014. Research shows lead exposure can affect a developing child’s IQ, resulting in learning disabilities.