Republicans Responsible for Lead Poisoning in Flint Michigan

Flint, MI Contaminated Water

FLINT, MICHIGAN — A city in Michigan is thirsty for justice after a large number of residents began suffering from severe lead poisoning, an issue which prompted city officials to declare a state of emergency on Monday night.

Flint, Michigan changed their water source from the Detroit system, which draws water from Lake Huron, to the Flint River in April 2014 as a cost-saving option. Reports found that Flint River’s water is more corrosive than Lake Huron’s, and caused high levels of lead to leach out of the city’s aging pipes into the water supply.

A recent study released by Flint’s Hurley Medical Center shows that the number of infants and children in the community with elevated lead in their bloodstreams doubled between 2013 and 2015. By the time Flint restored its connection to the Detroit water supply in mid-October this year, it was probably too late for thousands of city residents.

Soon after the switch in water supply, residents began complaining about the yellow, murky, foul-smelling water coming out of their taps, the Washington Post reported. Some reported experiencing hair loss and rashes. Flint officials didn’t ignore Flint residents’ complaints, not completely at least. Instead, they assured everyone that the water is perfectly safe. After it was revealed that the water was indeed contaminated, officials suggested that residents begin boiling their water and handed out water filters rather than fix the root of the problem — a contaminated water supply.

 

Flint toxic water tragedy points directly to Michigan Gov. Snyder

Republican Governor Rick Snyder OK’d switching the water supply from the Detroit system which gets it’s water from Lake Huron (the Great Lakes) to the Flint River in April 2014 to save money.  The Flint River water being more corrosive, caused high levels of lead in the drinking water.  As a result, children who drank this contaminated water will likely suffer life long brain damage from lead poisoning.

The reason why Republicans are responsible for Lead Poisoning in Flint Michigan is because Republican Gov Rick Snyder appointed Emergency Managers (against the will of the people) who were able to bypass and circumvent the power of elected officials and do practically anything they wanted, which included switching the water supply from the Detroit system which gets it’s water from Lake Huron (the Great Lakes) to the Flint River in April 2014 to save money.

 

This video shows how Michigan Republicans rammed legislation through which went into immediate effect, even though they don’t have the 2/3 majority vote required by law. Note how Republican Michigan Speaker of the House Subverts Democracy by NOT counting the votes. This is a OUTRAGE and goes against everything democracy is supposed to stand for.

 

Michael Moore “The Majority If Not ALL Of The Children Of Flint Have Permanent Brain Damage!”

 

Poisoned Democracy: How an Unelected Official Contaminated Flint’s Water to Save Money

In Flint, Michigan, where a growing number of residents are demanding the arrest of Governor Rick Snyder over the ongoing water contamination crisis. Snyder declared a state of emergency for Flint Wednesday, after learning federal prosecutors had opened an investigation into lead contamination in the drinking water. The poisoning began after an unelected emergency manager appointed by Governor Snyder switched the city’s water source to the long-polluted Flint River in a bid to save money. Lead can cause permanent health impacts including memory loss and developmental impairment. Researchers at Virginia Tech who have been testing Flint water say the city could have corrected the problem by better treating the water at a cost of as little as $100 a day. On Thursday, the mayor of Flint revealed it could now cost as much as $1.5 billion to fix the city’s water infrastructure. We speak to Curt Guyette, investigative reporter for the ACLU of Michigan, who has closely covered the story.

 

UPDATE: As of 1-5-2016, The US Department of Justice in Michigan has indicated that they will be launching an investigation into the Flint Water issue.

 

UPDATE: January 13, 2021 – Former Governor Rick Snyder and several other state officials will be facing criminal charges in connection with the Flint water crisis

 

Ex-Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder loses challenge to Flint water charges

A judge on Thursday rejected a request to dismiss misdemeanor charges against a former Michigan governor in the Flint water scandal.