“I think the state of Michigan has done very well in the process of regulating water and protecting citizens.” – Tim Walberg
Two days before Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is due to testify before Congress, Tim Walberg once again proved that his self-proclaimed arch-conservative ideology is wholly at odds with the safety of his constituents.
On the air yesterday, Walberg once again called the reaction to Flint “hysteria” – and then bizarrely declared that “the state of Michigan has done very well in the process of regulating water and protecting citizens.” Does he mean this state of Michigan?
And then the clincher: asked whether he believes there should be a push for oversight that would prevent the future poisoning of children in Michigan, here’s how Walberg replied:
“There may be. But those of us that believe in real federalism are going to be pushing back against that.”
That’s right – even following harsh criticism back home after heartlessly saying that the Flint crisis “shows that government can’t protect us against everything. It comes down to people watching out for themselves” – Walberg still believes the system is working just fine.
“By saying ‘government can’t protect us all’ and ‘people should watch out for themselves,’ Congressman Walberg has effectively demonstrated how little responsibility he is willing to take to ensure the health and safety of people in his district,” said Sacha Haworth of the DCCC. “If Congressman Walberg doesn’t think it’s his job to protect Americans from drinking contaminated water, what is he doing in office?”
Despite sitting on the very committee holding the Flint water hearings, Walberg has continued to dodge all responsibility for Governor Snyder’s absence at these hearings. Meanwhile, Walberg’s Democratic challenger, Gretchen Driskell, is working with constituents to submit questions to Walberg’s Oversight Committee to ask Gov. Snyder during his testimony. Walberg has flat-out refused to accept these questions, calling it “pure politics.”