“The increase of the illnesses closely corresponds with the timeframe of the switch to the Flint River water”.
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State officials say water samples from roughly 5,000 homes have been tested, and about 94 percent have are below the “actionable level” of 15 parts per billion for lead. At the time, others in the administration were scrambling to respond to suggestions that bacteria in the city’s new water source, the Flint River, could be the culprit.
The proposed compensation package has been roundly criticised by Democrats.
Republican Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma had proposed a deal in which money for Flint would come from a fund for advanced vehicles. Detroit schools emergency manager Darnell Earley, who was state-appointed emergency manager for Flint when its water source was switched, had been asked to testify but declined the invitation.
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said Wednesday that “there’s a good argument to be made” for the money because government failed residents.
Joel Beauvais said Wednesday that EPA’s regional staff urged MI officials “to address the lack of corrosion control” but that state officials delayed responding.
Senate Democrats filibustered a bipartisan energy bill Thursday after Republicans refused to include $300 million in federal aid for MI residents afflicted by lead-tainted water in Flint.
Stabenow said the amendment would have paid to fix pipes in Flint, among other help for the city.
Snyder’s office estimates that the $30 million Consumption and Consumer Use Credit – available because of a one-time $575 million budget surplus – would cover a two-year period until this spring, when officials hope the water supply is declared safe to consume again without filters.
Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) in a Thursday morning floor speech pointed to examples where Republicans had supported disaster aid for their own constituencies – including when Cornyn pushed for federal aid after a 2013 explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant that killed 15 people.
The crisis has taken on partisan overtones, as Democrats blame the Republican governor and some Republicans target the EPA for failing to intervene sooner. In November, four families in Flint sued state and city officials, citing serious health problems that can be traceable to lead.
“We are missing the most critical witness of all: the governor of the State of MI”, said an emotional Elijah Cummings, the ranking member on the committee.
“Since there is no plan announced or in place, it strikes me as putting the cart before the horse to say the Senate ought to vote on a $600 million emergency appropriations to pay for a plan that has not yet been created and disclosed to the American people”, said Sen.
Despite the partisan bickering, the hearing “got stuff accomplished”, said LeeAnne Walters, a Flint parent and activist who helped bring public attention to the city’s water crisis more than a year ago.
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Information for this article was contributed by Mary Clare Jalonick and David Eggert of The Associated Press.
