GOP Governor Second To Refuse Testimony Request From Congress
Rick Snyder will not be in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The Republican governor of Michigan has other plans and has just refused a request from Democrats to testify before Congress on the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which he and his administration created. Thousands of children likely have lead poisoning and the entire city is unable to use water they are paying for to drink, bath, or wash.
Snyder spokeswoman Anna Heaton says the governor will be busy Wednesday, presenting his annual budget, as The Hill reports.
“To date, Congress has not heard testimony from you on the Flint water crisis,” House Democrats from the Steering and Policy Committee wrote on February 4 in a letter to Snyder. “Unfortunately, a prior Congressional hearing this week did not include top state officials, including emergency financial managers appointed by you to run the city of Flint. Seeing how it was your administration’s decisions that led to this public health crisis, including Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law, we believe it is important to hear testimony from you on this matter.”
“The ongoing Flint water crisis is a terrible tragedy,†the letter, signed by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Donna Edwards, And Dan Kildee added. “As the governor of the state of Michigan, the families of Flint and all Americans deserve to hear testimony directly from you on how this man-made crisis happened, and what is being done at the state level to make it right.â€
In a statement responding to Snyder’s refusal, Rep. Kildee said that “Governor Snyder’s refusal to show up and testify is deeply disappointing. His administration’s policies led to this man-made crisis and he needs to answer questions so that the whole truth can be found.”
Last week, a different House Committee issued a subpoena to the emergency manager whom Snyder appointed to oversee Flint. Darnell Earley was the Flint emergency manager during the time the water was switched. Last week he refused a congressional subpoena to testify. The House said it would have federal marshals “hunt him down.”Â
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Image by Michigan Municipal League via Flickr and a CC license