Tax money for Flint Michigan water - politicians want some of the money!

Michigan governor requests millions in tax dollars for legal defense
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (a Republican) requested $1.2 million to pay for his defense attorneys in lawsuits against the state government for mishandling and failing to prevent the Flint water crisis. By Cathaleen Chen

Republican austerity policies in Flint, ME are costing tax payers millions in preventable fixing.

Michigan's Republican Governor Rick Snyder has admitted letting the people of Flint down, when his appointed city fiscal manager negotiated a change in the city's water source for the purpose of saving municipal money. But, now the decision he made to save tax money is costing Michigan taxpayers millions now and for an untold future of court challenges for reparations.  Now, Governor Snyder is even asking for Michigan taxpayers to help pay his legal fees resulting from his mismanagement.  In a "political slight of hand", Snyder has asked the state's legislature to approve money to help resolve the Flint water problem, that he helped to create, while, at the same time, allocate funds to deflect his legal fees.

Michigan Taxpayers Face Paying Millions In Legal Fees Over Flint Crisis- Critics called the proposals a "kick in the teeth" to those who suffered from lead-tainted water.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) made a decision to support a municipal manager who is now responsible for costing the state's taxpayers millions!  Republican policies are failing the American people and Flint Michigan is a morbid sympton of their public mismanagement.

Michigan taxpayers may face at least $2.7 million in legal fees under new requests from the state's governor and attorney general over the Flint water crisis.

Gov. Rick Snyder (R) requested on Tuesday $1.2 million for legal services, more than double the $500,000 already earmarked. Attorney General Bill Schuette asked for a separate increase in funds to $1.5 million to pay a firm investigating the government's involvement in the crisis.

Flint has been reeling after residents discovered brown water flowing from their taps in 2014. The local government largely ignored complaints about the situation for months until reports emerged saying the water was contaminated withdangerously high levels of lead, a neurotoxin that can cause brain damage in young children.

The failed response has prompted a severe backlash against Snyder, including allegations that state and city officials ignored evidence the water was toxic. President Barack Obama called the incident "inexcusable" and Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have both called on the governor to resign.

Several high-profile lawsuits have already been filed against the government. Another seeking class-action status was filed earlier this week on behalf of seven families from areas with lead-poisoned water .

The increased legal fees will be used to investigate whether any laws were broken in the government's response and to defend the governor's office against any wrongdoing. A spokesperson for the governor told the Detroit Free Press the legal contracts would become more expensive "based on the anticipated billing for work already completed and the workload as we look ahead."

“The attorney general is running an independent, broad-based investigation team that will leave no stone unturned,” Andrea Bitely, a spokeswoman for Schuette, told the Detroit News.

As The Huffington Post's Dana Liebelson and Arthur Delaney reported last month, Schuette's office already seems to have chosen sides in the crisis, advising lower-level officials they would need to find their own lawyers while the attorney general defends the governor.

State lawmakers attacked the new budget proposal and called the increases"outrageous" and a "kick in the teeth" to taxpayers already hurting from toxic drinking water.

The contracts will go to the State Administrative Board for approval on Tuesday.

Give Governor Rick Snyder a political grade of "F" for leadership and recall him for fiscal mismanagement of Michigan's tax money.