'Mistakes were made' Snyder to address Flint water in State of the State
LANSING, (Mich.) - Hours before the most important speech of his career, Gov. Rick Snyder was talking to GOP lawmakers about his plan to address the public health and water crisis in Flint.
In his only interview prior to the address, he also talked with FOX'2 Tim Skubick on the gravity of this crisis.
Tim Skubick: "Is this the most important state of the state you've given."
Gov. Rick Snyder: "Well yeah."
WATCH: Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State will be streamed live at Fox2Detroit.com
The governor will announce tonight an infusion of about $20 million to address the water crisis in Flint. there will be more to come. He will also release some of his personal emails on the administration’s handling, his critics would say, mishandling of the crisis.
"He's been incompetent in getting help to the residents of Flint," said Brandon Dillon, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. "He's been incompetent in making sure those who work underneath him were flagging problems with poisoned water in Flint and if he only knew about the outbreak of Legionnaires disease a week ago that was incompetent."
The governor concedes others may call it incompetence, but he is working on the solution even though he confesses mistakes were made.
"Mistakes were made, I wish I would have known about it, so you take responsibility," Snyder said.
Skubick: "Anything criminal?"
"Not in my view, I haven't heard anything that reflects that at all," Snyder said. "I don't think anyone was doing anything out of malice."
The Senate Democratic leader from Flint wants to focus on solutions, too, but he complains the Snyder administration has been lacking on three fronts.
"The lack of accountability, the lack of honesty and the lack of urgency," Jim Ananich said.
"I understand anger," said State Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R). "I understand people want justice but the people of Flint can’t drink justice. They need clean water."
Meekhof concedes whatever the governor says tonight not everyone will agree.