FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
August 19, 2016
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Snyder Spends 2x More On Legal Defense than State Workers with Charges
Snyder, despite no charges, spent more on himself than DEQ employees with charges
MICHIGAN — Despite the fact that no official charges related to the Flint Water Crisis have been levied against him, Gov. Rick Snyder has already spent more than twice the amount of money on his own personal legal defense than what has been spent on state employees who are actually facing charges. It was revealed today that Snyder’s taxpayer-funded defense fund has ballooned to $3.4 million — almost tripling the original amount.
According to the Detroit News, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has spent $1.4 million to defend the employees that have been criminally charged. However, Snyder — who has yet to be charged with any crime — has racked up a $3.4 million taxpayer-funded legal bill.
“It’s absolutely shameful that while the people of Flint still cannot safely drink the water from their taps a multi-millionaire like Snyder is allowed to hoard public resources for his own personal defense,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Republicans in this state like to claim they’re on the side of working families, but when it comes down to it, they’re most interested in doing what’s best for the wealthy and the well-connected, like Rick Snyder and his corporate donors. We need public dollars going to fix Flint, not covering the ass of an out-of-touch millionaire who allowed this crisis to happen on his watch.”
According to Snyder’s spokesperson, the governor’s defense budget may become even more bloated over the coming months. Snyder has the power to unilaterally approve public spending on his defense.
“We just don’t know what, if any, of the future costs will be,” said Snyder’s spokesperson, according to the Detroit News.
“If Republicans in the legislature have any backbone, they’ll stop this spending spree by Snyder and put that money where it belongs: on new pipes in the ground in Flint and reimbursing the community for the harm they have suffered at the hands of total Republican control,” Scott continued.
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