The top Democrat in the Michigan House is the first state lawmaker to call for Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s resignation over Flint’s lead-contaminated water crisis.
House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (GREYE-muhl) said Wednesday that Snyder should step down because of “actions of negligence and indifference, and a culture he has created that lacks transparency and accountability.”
The city, which switched its water source in 2014 while under state financial management, is under a state of emergency. Lead from aging pipes leached into drinking water, and a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak potentially linked to the Flint River caused nine deaths.
A spokesman for Snyder could not immediately be reached. The governor, who has apologized, has refused to resign and says he is committed to fixing the problem.
Also, a document shows that Michigan blocked Flint from switching back to Detroit’s water system under the terms of a $7 million loan.