MIRS News (subscription only)
3/2/2016
U.S. Rep. Tim WALBERG (R-Tipton) said today a lesson learned from the Flint water crisis is that “government can’t protect us against everything. It comes down to people watching out for themselves, staying attuned.”
Walberg’s analysis on Michigan’s Big Show came after Walberg was asked to comment on a MIRS/Target Insyght survey that showed 53 percent of Republican primary voters blame city or county government for lead leaching into the city’s municipal water supply (See “53% Of GOP Voters Blame Locals For Flint Water Crisis,” 2/26/16).
He said the results speak to a philosophy that the best government is the government that is closest to the people, and if they fail, the bear the brunt of it. Walberg, who sits on the congressional panel that is digging into the Flint water crisis, added there “is plenty of blame to go around.”
But congressional Democrats immediately hopped on the “government can’t protect us from everything” comment as not being a fit response from an elected government official. They highlighted the quote in a press release today on the argument that government, at the very least, should be expected to provide its people with clean water from the tap.
“I really have no words,” said Sacha HAWORTH, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Walberg’s constituents are looking at him for guidance, and he effectively throws up his hands and says, ‘You need to watch out for yourselves?’ That is a completely unacceptable answer from a member of Congress.”
Walberg’s likely opponent in the 7th Congressional District this fall, Rep. Gretchen DRISKELL, (D-Saline), said she found Walberg’s comments as “shocking” and “really, really disappointing.”
“I took a serious oath of office that I would look after the safety and well-being of our citizens. That’s our primary role,” Driskell said. “As a former mayor, that’s the basic minimum. If we don’t have an expectation of at least clean drinking water . . . I find that shocking.”
The station had to go to break before Walberg could finish his thoughts on the radio. However, the basic tenor was government had a responsibility to provide residents’ basic needs. It failed in this case. Government is not perfect and that’s why residents should be vigilant.
Also during the interview, Walberg claimed Driskell was playing “pure politics” with presenting him with questions that he should ask Gov. Rick SNYDER Mar. 17 when the Governor is scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (See “Snyder To Testify Before Congressional Oversight Committee,” 2/12/16).
“We don’t need the politics played on this one right now,” Walberg said. “We need to take care of the kids. We need to take care of the families.”
He said he wants to hear the Governor and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCARTHY talk about what is happening on the ground and whether the children of Flint are receiving the necessary care.
Driskell said the questions being collected on her web page are coming from constituents who are interested in government oversight.
“The Governor is the leader of our state and he’s been slow to answer a lot of questions,” Driskell said. “That’s why they’re doing another congressional hearing. It is interesting that Mr. Walberg is saying this is politics. It’s his responsibility to listen to his constituents. It’s confusing that I was being called political when he’s not doing his job of oversight.”