Rep. Paul Gosar is trying to blame US EPA Secretary McCarthy for the lead poisoning in Flint.
Rep. Cummings reminds Mr. Creagh he is under oath and notes Mr. Creagh was assigned as Director of the Michigan DEA one month ago. Mr. Creagh states he does not recall any vote by the City Council of Flint to use the Flint River for water. Creagh doesn't recall because he was never there and hasn't been briefed about the crisis.
A person at the City Council Meeting, Mr. Nealy, stated "It was Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz that made the decision to use the Flint River for the city of Flint." Mr. Nealy is validated by the former Mayor.
Rep. Cummings asks why is it Governor Snyder is blaming the Flint City Council for the lead poisoning if he was taking complete responsibility for the poisoning. Rep. Cummings is infuriated with Keith Creagh that the people of Flint are paying for poisoned water they cannot even bath in.
Rep. Cummings wants the truth regardless of who is responsible.
Rep. Mark Meadows received some texts about water quality issues and the failure of the EPA. What has that got to do with Flint? Since FOYA is under my subcommittee and FOYA is allowed to review documents. Within 21 days a request is suppose to be fulfilled, the EPA is not forthcoming with the documents requested. Mr. Edwards is stating the State of Michigan is more forthcoming than the EPA. Mr. Mark Meadows states EPA doesn't enforce it's own regulations. Mr. Beauvais, USEPA, states he will take it back to be sure that is fulfilled. Mr. Meadows states he doesn't care who it is but he is committed to get clarity on the issues and hold whoever is responsible regardless of politics.
Rep. Matt Cartwright notes Governor Snyder has been caught red handed poisoning the people of Flint, but, he apologized and then started to spread the blame around. That is what criminals do. They try to find an equivalency of blame. Mr. Cartwright stated states the city council has no responsibility in this issue and never voted for the replacement of their water supply with the Flint River. It was the Governor that sought fiscal infrastructure substitution at the cost of the health of Flint residents.
Jerry Ambrose and Governor Snyder are hiding when they were suppose to be at the committee hearing today. There was a decision in 2012 at the Michigan DEP that opposed using the Flint River and then in 2014 there was a change of decision when the current Director of the Michigan DEP was not there. So, there is no testimony today as to what happened between 2012 and 2014 that now causes the poisoning of the people of Flint.
Rep. Hice - The Lead and Copper Rule needs to be updated every six years. The last time it was updated in 2007, the USEPA has been seeking information from all the stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive rule. The USEPA states the rule will be completed by 2017. Mr. Marc Edwards believes the US EPA has caused the Flint crisis worse.
January 21, 2016
By Ron Fonger
...Del Toral wrote an interim report on high levels of lead (click here) n Flint water on June 24, 2015, months after other EPA officials had warned the state Department of Environmental Quality that the chemistry of Flint River water was appeared to be causing transmission pipes to leach contaminants such as lead into the water supply....
The journal record at Ron Fonger and all other news records from any form of media should become part of the federal record regarding Flint. It is a way of providing a way to understand the public perception of the actions of those acting out of reach of the public authority to have knowledge of dangers to their lives. There are probably several journalists that have been following this with deal and they know where they were stonewalled when trying to act on the behalf of the public.
Mr. Del Toral is not in the committee meeting room today.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence took over the testing of Flint's water last week and she is not interested in pointing fingers as a resolve to the meeting.
Mr. Russell wants to understand the core mission of the EPA and brings up the Lead and Copper rule. Mr. Beauvais states the rule has been revised a few times over the years. Rep. Russell states the Lead and Copper Rule hasn't been updated for 25 years. He offers no proof. Mr. Edwards states the US EPA has a cozy relationship with water authorities and is not doing their job. The US EPA was listening to the wrong people including the water in Flint. THE WATER IN FLINT WAS FINE BEFORE THIS GOVERNOR PUT MONEY BEFORE HEALTH. The Lead and Copper Rule was never violated by Flint BEFORE THE GOVERNOR TRADED A BALANCE SHEET FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF FLINT. UNTIL THE POISONED WATER REACHED THE PEOPLE OF FLINT THE WATER WAS NEVER A PROBLEM.
Switching to the net:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?404078-1/hearing-contaminated-drinking-water-flint-michigan
Mr. Beauvais states the Michigan DEQ never followed the directions of the US EPA in regard to the corrosion. Rep. Russell states Mr. Beauvais is shifting the responsibility to the MDEQ. Russell wants to set up the EPA and the Obama Administration for the entire disaster in Flint.
Chairman Chaffetz states he has to keep order as a good chairman would do, so he is going to clarify some things. He states he has spoken with the US EPA and documents were due at the end of this week and finds the EPA cooperative.
Chaffetz is entering a June 24, 2015 from Del Torro stating high lead results in the water. April 27, 2015 Flint has not been operating in a corrosive control treatment. E-mail Ms. Headman, July 1st - The preliminary findings of the water should not have been released outside the agency. The four documents are entered into the record and the committee expects non-redacted versions by the end of the week. Susan Headman is being subpoenaed. Mr. Early is vital to understand these decisions and he was invited to appear before the committee. Participation is not optional. Mr. Early is not in the room.
LOOK, any fool understands with all the absences. They want to hear the direction and CYA of the committee so they know how to line up their own lies!
There are Flint residents in the room and clapped at the statement Early is going to be served a subpoena by US Marshalls.
Chairman Chaffetz stated he thought it was important to clear the air and provide an understanding that the committee is taking this very seriously.
Rep. Tim Walberg has cleared up the understanding this is a human tragedy and not a natural disaster, but, he also believes it is a failure of government at all levels and how do we make it right and move forward.
If this committee is so very serious then get rid of the political shenanigans.
Why has this taken so long Chairman Chaffetz? It is a minority community without fiscal resources to hire lawyers to end their suffering. THAT IS WHY!!!!!!!
Chairman Chaffetz you do not understand poverty in the USA. That speaks eons to the insensitivity of Republicans in general. How can you legislate without even knowing the people and treating those that do, namely Democrats, as second rate citizens. You know the ones that fuss and fume about reducing food stamps and medical protection for the YEAST POWERFUL OF ALL OF US.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence is apologetic for the failure of government at all levels. She notes the presence of Wyatt, Early and Snyder should be at the meeting and there will be a second meeting.
Rep. Gary Palmer states the US EPA lost credibility. Yeah? Governor Snyder has no reason to still be in office.
Ms. Walters is on the panel as a representative of the people of Flint.
There is a man at the back of the room with a pink sign stating; "Bring Democracy Back to Flint."
Mr. Kildee's name came up many times during the committee meeting.
December 23, 2015
By Gary Ridley
Rep. Cummings reminds Mr. Creagh he is under oath and notes Mr. Creagh was assigned as Director of the Michigan DEA one month ago. Mr. Creagh states he does not recall any vote by the City Council of Flint to use the Flint River for water. Creagh doesn't recall because he was never there and hasn't been briefed about the crisis.
A person at the City Council Meeting, Mr. Nealy, stated "It was Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz that made the decision to use the Flint River for the city of Flint." Mr. Nealy is validated by the former Mayor.
Rep. Cummings asks why is it Governor Snyder is blaming the Flint City Council for the lead poisoning if he was taking complete responsibility for the poisoning. Rep. Cummings is infuriated with Keith Creagh that the people of Flint are paying for poisoned water they cannot even bath in.
Rep. Cummings wants the truth regardless of who is responsible.
Rep. Mark Meadows received some texts about water quality issues and the failure of the EPA. What has that got to do with Flint? Since FOYA is under my subcommittee and FOYA is allowed to review documents. Within 21 days a request is suppose to be fulfilled, the EPA is not forthcoming with the documents requested. Mr. Edwards is stating the State of Michigan is more forthcoming than the EPA. Mr. Mark Meadows states EPA doesn't enforce it's own regulations. Mr. Beauvais, USEPA, states he will take it back to be sure that is fulfilled. Mr. Meadows states he doesn't care who it is but he is committed to get clarity on the issues and hold whoever is responsible regardless of politics.
Rep. Matt Cartwright notes Governor Snyder has been caught red handed poisoning the people of Flint, but, he apologized and then started to spread the blame around. That is what criminals do. They try to find an equivalency of blame. Mr. Cartwright stated states the city council has no responsibility in this issue and never voted for the replacement of their water supply with the Flint River. It was the Governor that sought fiscal infrastructure substitution at the cost of the health of Flint residents.
Jerry Ambrose and Governor Snyder are hiding when they were suppose to be at the committee hearing today. There was a decision in 2012 at the Michigan DEP that opposed using the Flint River and then in 2014 there was a change of decision when the current Director of the Michigan DEP was not there. So, there is no testimony today as to what happened between 2012 and 2014 that now causes the poisoning of the people of Flint.
Rep. Hice - The Lead and Copper Rule needs to be updated every six years. The last time it was updated in 2007, the USEPA has been seeking information from all the stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive rule. The USEPA states the rule will be completed by 2017. Mr. Marc Edwards believes the US EPA has caused the Flint crisis worse.
January 21, 2016
By Ron Fonger
...Del Toral wrote an interim report on high levels of lead (click here) n Flint water on June 24, 2015, months after other EPA officials had warned the state Department of Environmental Quality that the chemistry of Flint River water was appeared to be causing transmission pipes to leach contaminants such as lead into the water supply....
The journal record at Ron Fonger and all other news records from any form of media should become part of the federal record regarding Flint. It is a way of providing a way to understand the public perception of the actions of those acting out of reach of the public authority to have knowledge of dangers to their lives. There are probably several journalists that have been following this with deal and they know where they were stonewalled when trying to act on the behalf of the public.
Mr. Del Toral is not in the committee meeting room today.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence took over the testing of Flint's water last week and she is not interested in pointing fingers as a resolve to the meeting.
Mr. Russell wants to understand the core mission of the EPA and brings up the Lead and Copper rule. Mr. Beauvais states the rule has been revised a few times over the years. Rep. Russell states the Lead and Copper Rule hasn't been updated for 25 years. He offers no proof. Mr. Edwards states the US EPA has a cozy relationship with water authorities and is not doing their job. The US EPA was listening to the wrong people including the water in Flint. THE WATER IN FLINT WAS FINE BEFORE THIS GOVERNOR PUT MONEY BEFORE HEALTH. The Lead and Copper Rule was never violated by Flint BEFORE THE GOVERNOR TRADED A BALANCE SHEET FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF FLINT. UNTIL THE POISONED WATER REACHED THE PEOPLE OF FLINT THE WATER WAS NEVER A PROBLEM.
Switching to the net:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?404078-1/hearing-contaminated-drinking-water-flint-michigan
Mr. Beauvais states the Michigan DEQ never followed the directions of the US EPA in regard to the corrosion. Rep. Russell states Mr. Beauvais is shifting the responsibility to the MDEQ. Russell wants to set up the EPA and the Obama Administration for the entire disaster in Flint.
Chairman Chaffetz states he has to keep order as a good chairman would do, so he is going to clarify some things. He states he has spoken with the US EPA and documents were due at the end of this week and finds the EPA cooperative.
Chaffetz is entering a June 24, 2015 from Del Torro stating high lead results in the water. April 27, 2015 Flint has not been operating in a corrosive control treatment. E-mail Ms. Headman, July 1st - The preliminary findings of the water should not have been released outside the agency. The four documents are entered into the record and the committee expects non-redacted versions by the end of the week. Susan Headman is being subpoenaed. Mr. Early is vital to understand these decisions and he was invited to appear before the committee. Participation is not optional. Mr. Early is not in the room.
LOOK, any fool understands with all the absences. They want to hear the direction and CYA of the committee so they know how to line up their own lies!
There are Flint residents in the room and clapped at the statement Early is going to be served a subpoena by US Marshalls.
Chairman Chaffetz stated he thought it was important to clear the air and provide an understanding that the committee is taking this very seriously.
Rep. Tim Walberg has cleared up the understanding this is a human tragedy and not a natural disaster, but, he also believes it is a failure of government at all levels and how do we make it right and move forward.
Why has this taken so long Chairman Chaffetz? It is a minority community without fiscal resources to hire lawyers to end their suffering. THAT IS WHY!!!!!!!
Chairman Chaffetz you do not understand poverty in the USA. That speaks eons to the insensitivity of Republicans in general. How can you legislate without even knowing the people and treating those that do, namely Democrats, as second rate citizens. You know the ones that fuss and fume about reducing food stamps and medical protection for the YEAST POWERFUL OF ALL OF US.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence is apologetic for the failure of government at all levels. She notes the presence of Wyatt, Early and Snyder should be at the meeting and there will be a second meeting.
Rep. Gary Palmer states the US EPA lost credibility. Yeah? Governor Snyder has no reason to still be in office.
Ms. Walters is on the panel as a representative of the people of Flint.
There is a man at the back of the room with a pink sign stating; "Bring Democracy Back to Flint."
Mr. Kildee's name came up many times during the committee meeting.
December 23, 2015
By Gary Ridley
..."My focus (click here) is on getting the kids help," Kildee said, adding such a health fund would be unprecedented.
Kildee said he has met with members of the medical community — including Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the director of Hurley Medical Center's Pediatric Residency Program, whose initial research first showed rising levels of lead in the blood of Flint children — to try to develop a medical response to what he called a "failure of government."...
I really do think with all the manipulation that will lead to lost documents and shredders; any record anywhere in Michigan or otherwise, including medical records of the residents, regarding this episode of the failure of our democracy needs to become a part of the federal record. I would think Ranking Member Cummings could be reached and decide to accept documents into the record. This is a failure of the USA democracy. A Governor dismissed the USA Constitution and plugged in his plutocratic authority. This is not minor. Those people were poisoned by the Governor because of his disdain for the lack fiscal solvency.
I really do think with all the manipulation that will lead to lost documents and shredders; any record anywhere in Michigan or otherwise, including medical records of the residents, regarding this episode of the failure of our democracy needs to become a part of the federal record. I would think Ranking Member Cummings could be reached and decide to accept documents into the record. This is a failure of the USA democracy. A Governor dismissed the USA Constitution and plugged in his plutocratic authority. This is not minor. Those people were poisoned by the Governor because of his disdain for the lack fiscal solvency.
