Snyder assigns $195 million to Flint for water crisis in new state budget

Gov. Rick Snyder laid out his new budget Wednesday on how to spend $55 billion of tax dollars and a $232 million chunk of that,  is headed to Flint to address the water crisis there.

Snyder had to wade through Flint protestors who chanted outside the House budget room during his 50 minute budget presentation.

His top priority was funneling an additional $195 million into the Flint water crisis for water and water infrastructure.

"It is essentially $37 million for food and nutrition, $15 million for health and well-being, it is $63 million for water bill credits," he said.

It will be at least two months or longer before enough testing is done to determine if the water is safe to drink.

Meanwhile Snyder says his own personal crisis has been the worst of his career but it pales in comparison what the citizens of Flint are going through. For the first time he indicated his family is also bearing part of the burden of this crisis.

"The part that is the most difficult for me is the fact people have taken this out on my family and that's really hard," Snyder said.

Reporter: "In what regard?"

"They have, Tim, I don't want to share that publicly," Snyder said.

The governor hopes that lawmakers will act quickly on this $195 million for Flint.
The lawmakers are expected to approve the water crisis money but only if there are guarantees the money will not be wasted. Even with $232 million supposedly coming from the state. These protestors simply do not trust the governor to get this right.

"He was aware that we were sick," said one man. "I can understand if he wasn't aware but he was aware that people were being poisoned. Therefore, it doesn't matter what apology he has because he's lying straight to our face."

The Republican Chair of the budget committee thinks the protestors should trust the governor.

"I don't buy that," said Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville). "I guess what I would say to the protestors is I understand your frustration because I think we're seeing it across the country. I believe it is a feeling that people think government is not listening to them.

"What we saw today from Governor Snyder, if they could have been in there they could have seen it. I think he has heard them and responded to their concerns and now we go forward from here."