“Government at all levels has a responsibility to fix this problem so the people of Flint can have normal lives once again.” So said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn). She was a sponsor of an amendment that would have put up $457.5 million towards emergency aid for communities with lead-contaminated public drinking water. $170 million was also set, in the amendment to the Republican budget, for water infrastructure projects and loan subsidies for states declaring emergency due to similar water-related issues.
The Republican-controlled committee rejected the proposal 22-14 along party lines.
Here are the budget committee members. One of the dissenting Republicans had the chutzpah to talk. Out loud. About his decision. In front of people.
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, opposed the amendment, saying it was “not the right way to go” and highlighting the $70 million the Michigan Legislature already has funneled to aid Flint.
“I know very clearly that families are suffering there through no fault of their own. State government has failed. Federal government has failed,” said Moolenaar, who visited Flint last weekend.
He also said that Bernie and Hillary had “politicized” Flint. But don’t you worry. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Midland) wrote a strongly worded thing in his budget resolution.
Moolenaar said he inserted into the budget resolution language recognizing the “negative impact” of the Flint drinking water crisis and criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency for its “failure of leadership” in its response to Flint.
So, keep your eye out for Rep. John Moolenaar. He’s clearly a rising star in the Republican Party.