With both hands already full, Snyder needs a third for Flint water system dollars
(WJBK) - Gov. Rick Snyder survived his leg blood clot but now he needs another operation ... a hand transplant because he is one short.
The governor has one hand out for money for the roads. He will soon have his second hand out for money for the deficit in the Detroit school system and his third hand, if the operation is successful, is for state dollars for the water system in Flint.
As you might expect, he is not getting much of a helping hand from some recalcitrant lawmakers on all three fronts.
The latest request for $6 million smackers came late last week as the Snyder administration scrambled to get ahead of the curve on the Flint water crisis. His critics contend he's been so far behind the curve that now the health of Flint kids and their parents are at risk.
So there he was flanked by his top aides embracing the decision to restore Detroit water to Flint after it decided some time ago to disconnect from Motown and use its own water instead. The resulting "lead in the water" story has dominated the headlines and forced the governor to concede a short time ago that more needed to be done and pronto.
While the debate rages on over the alleged tardy response by the administration, over in the legislature, coughing up the 6 mil will be a challenge.
Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth) harkens back to his days in Wayne County when he recalls Genesee County was warned not to shut off the Detroit water. Now as a result, Mr. Heise and friends are being asked to spend "your tax dollars," as he puts it, to rectify the health threat.
The senate GOP leader is more sanguine about the request noting, "we have talked about where the funds will come from (and) there's plenty of opportunity to figure out" the source. And the House GOP Speaker appears to be on board, as well. That's two votes.
Now can he cobble together 18 more senators and 53 house members to actually do it while he is also asking for more money for roads and Detroit schools?
If he works this trifecta, his friends will say he certainly deserves a hand from somebody.