Congressman eviscerates Republican governor’s incompetence and callousness
Ranking Democratic member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) lashed into Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Rick Snyder is the Republican governor whose incompetence caused the lead poisoning of the citizens of Flint Michigan water supply.
His opening was striking as he used it to call out the fallacy of running the government like a business.
“Governor Snyder has been described as running the state of Michigan like a business,” Rep. Elijah Cummings said. “Well, what if this was a business. What if a CEO ran a company that sold toys laced with lead that children put in their mouths. Wha t if those children were poisoned as a result. And what if that CEO ignored warnings for more than a year as those kids got sicker and sicker and sicker. There is no doubt in my mind that if a corporate CEO did what Governor Snyder’s administration has done, he would be hauled up on criminal charges. The board of directors would throw him out. And the shareholders would revolt. This is similar to what is happening now to Governor Snyder.”
Rep. Cummings also stated that the Special Counsel for the State Attorney Generals Office has launched an investigation. The Governor and his administration could face charges of gross negligence and manslaughter.
Rep. Cummings ran through a paper trail that illustrated the Governor Rick Snyders administration was aware for over a year that there was a serious problem with Flint Michigans water supply yet did very little to mitigate it.
It is clear that this mishap occurred because of two distinct reasons. The first is an ideological rigidity towards privatization and cost cutting at all cost. The second is the complete disregard for the humanity of some. Throughout the hearing, it was evident from his answers and lack of sensibility the callous nature of the Governor and the disregard for the life of those affected. One could not know there is a problem with drinking water for over a year and not feel a human responsibility to stop those poisoning themselves with the water.