Legislative Leaders Have Mixed Reactions to Snyder's Speech

Michigan’s legislative leaders have mixed reactions to Governor Rick Snyder’s State of the State address where he highlighted the timeline of the Flint water crisis then talked about solutions moving forward.

In the speech the governor called for more state money for Flint and said those whose mistakes contributed to the problem would be held responsible.

But Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, a Flint Democrat, wasn’t happy with the governor’s address.

He says the focus should have been about solutions for the people, not about fixing the reputations of people in the legislature and the governor’s mansion.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, a Grand Haven Republican, felt Governor Snyder struck a great tone by admitting to mistakes made on the governor’s watch and then laying out how they would begin to fix the problem.

House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, an Auburn Hills Democrat, says the speech included a lot of ducking and deflecting and a lot of blaming of others in the administration and a refusal to take personal responsibility.

House Speaker Kevin Cotter, a Mt. Pleasant Republican, says his chamber will focus on the $28 million the governor called for to help Flint.

He says they will begin hearings in the House appropriations committee on that.