Senator puts hold on lead bill, says Flint doesn’t need fed aid

[TomCADem]

Source: MSNBC

A U.S. senator from Utah who put a hold on a bill to provide federal aid to Flint, Michigan, amid its water crisis said Friday he did so because the federal money is unneeded.

“The state of Michigan has an enormous budget surplus this year and a large rainy-day fund, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars,” Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, said in a statement Friday.

“Gov. [Rick] Snyder has requested $200 million of that from the state legislature for Flint this year. Relief and repair efforts are already in the works,” Lee said. “The people and policymakers of Michigan right now have all the government resources they need to fix the problem.”

The residents of the city of nearly 100,000 were exposed to lead poisoning when the city switched water sources in a bid to save money. Lead poisoning can destroy brain tissue and cause irreversible developmental problems in children.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/senator-puts-hold-lead-bill-says-flint-doesnt-need-fed-aid

[Chasstev365]

1. KEEP VOTING REPUBLICAN FOLKS!

OMG! Zero shame.

[Siwsan]

2. Sen. Lee should have joined Congressman Kildee's group visiting Flint, and said that to our faces

Admittedly, I'd like to bankrupt Snyder's personal finances, before seeking federal aid. I've read estimates of upwards to and beyond $750,000,000 just for water line/pipe replacement and repairs. Draining Michigan's financial reserves, which aren't nearly adequate for the job, isn't the answer.

[Capt.Rocky300]

3. He's just the kind of guy.....

who would be the first to the federal trough if something bad happened in Utah.

[barbtries]

4. who didn't know it was a republican

?

[Judi Lynn]

7. He's one of their finest minds.

[center]

Senator Mike Lee





[/center]

[barbtries]

9. ugh

wish i hadn't looked at that

[snot]

5. Actually, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if

MI did have big reserves that the Repubs-in-charge simply refuse to spend on the 99%.

[turbinetree]

6. Mike Lee and his buddy list....and the moola that buys him......lets not forget Hatch.........

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00031696&type=I

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00031696&type=I

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/bills.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00031696&type=I&spon_type=sponsor&cong=114


http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/bills.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00031696&type=I&spon_type=co-sponsor&cong=114

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00031696&type=I

[bluestateguy]

8. And I will now oppose any aid to Utah, for fires, floods, blizzards or tornadoes

I will oppose Utah getting anything for the above disasters, until Mike Lee is voted out.

[Mopar151]

10. This should work like Superfund was supposed to

Start the cleanup NOW - it ain't going to get any better. Turn the lawyers loose to start their stuff, and nobody has to wait around.

[Vinca]

11. He does have a point.

Michigan has the money they need on hand in a rainy day fund. The state created the problem and the state should be shipping money from the rainy day fund to Flint. I'm not opposed to the federal government being involved, but Republican governors must be held accountable for the disasters they've made of their states. Michigan is obviously the worst disaster (at the moment), but Kansas, Maine and a couple of others are also in pretty bad shape. Look at what Jindal did to Louisiana. The new Democratic governor went on television to outline the mess and said they might have to consider closing hospitals, universities and ending end-stage dialysis. Goodbye, Grandma. Jindal made such a mess he was selling state cars to bring in a few bucks. If the federal government funds the repairs, they need to put a giant lien on Michigan's rainy day fund.

[sendero]

12. I tend to agree...

... "conservative" politicians are always blathering about how the Federal government should stay out of states' business. Time to walk the walk.

[Dont call me Shirley]

13. That makes Lee an accessory in the crimes of poisoning and murdering.