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Michigan Gov. Snyder: Hillary's Flint Accusations Inaccurate

MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 11 February 2016 11:32 AM EST

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Thursday denied claims made by Hillary Clinton during her concession speech in New Hampshire that he "poisoned people to save money" in Flint, Michigan, replying that her statement was "not accurate."

"This was a terrible tragedy and it really goes to multiple levels of government," Snyder told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program. "There were bureaucrats, state government that made mistakes in common sense and judgment, there were mistakes at the EPA."

He further said that he is taking responsibility for the actions of people in the state government, and on Wednesday announced a multi-million investment into fixing Flint's water woes.

"This is about solving this issue and we shouldn't put politics into this," said Snyder. "We should be rallying together to say how do we make things better in Flint."

Flint's water supply became polluted with lead after the system was switched to bring in water from the Flint River, rather than from Detroit, and the more corrosive water caused the city's aging water lines to leach lead.

Snyder explained Thursday that in his new budget, there was already $9 million allocated, followed by $28 million in supplemental funds. Wednesday, he said, he asked for $195 million more to help Flint residents.

"Essentially, it's $37 million for water infrastructure, $15 million for food and nutrition. $63 million for health, social well-being, issues like that," he said. "A $30 million water bill credit and a $50 million reserve fund, and that's for Flint."

Snyder said he also proposed $165 million to go to a state infrastructure fund, as "now is the time to act on the whole infrastructure issue across the state of Michigan," so that makes a total amount of $400 million devoted to Flint and the state's water infrastructure "in some fashion."

There is blame to go around, said Snyder, but he and other officials are working on making matters better.

"Longer term, we are mapping the pipes, the infrastructure, which was missing in some respects to know where the lead pipes are and how to come up with a long-term replacement program so it's a series of actions," said Snyder.