FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
April 6, 2016
Contact: Hugh Madden, 734-250-2070, hugh@progressmichigan.org
Ruth Johnson Sides with Rick Snyder over Taxpayers
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson Rejects Progress Michigan Complaint Regarding Snyder’s Legal Defense
LANSING — Today, Progress Michigan was informed that Secretary of State Ruth Johnson rejected their complaint regarding Rick Snyder’s use of taxpayer dollars to defend himself against criminal actions regarding the Flint Water Crisis. The complaint alleged that Rick Snyder had failed to set up a Legal Defense Fund after signing two contracts for his personal defense.
“Secretary of State Johnson is sending a loud and clear message to Michigan citizens that she will not use her power to force the Governor to spend his own money for his own criminal defense,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Instead of using her bully pulpit to demand action for the people of Flint, Ruth Johnson is using her elected position to defend the Governor’s dubious use of taxpayer funds to defend himself against legal action instead of using those funds to defend the people of Flint from his failure to keep their water safe.”
Progress Michigan submitted thousands of signatures to the State Administrative board calling on them to reject the contracts and force Rick Snyder to use his own money for his own criminal defense.
“For two years the people of Flint showed up at open meetings seeking answers to what was wrong with their water and they were ignored and told to sit back, relax and trust the Snyder administration,” Scott continued. “Now Ruth Johnson is ignoring the voices of the people who don’t think taxpayers should fund Rick Snyder’s personal legal defense. Republicans in Lansing just don’t seem to care about what the people want – only about what is in the best interests of their well-connected friends.”
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LDFA Rejection by progressmichigan