LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder declined to appear before Congress next week to offer his testimony on how the Flint water crisis happened and what is being done at the state level to make it right.
The governor was invited Thursday to testify before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on Wednesday in Washington
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Snyder will instead be presenting his 2017 fiscal year budget to the Legislature on Wednesday. according to the Governor's Office.
The committee hearing is entitled "The Flint Water Crisis: Lessons for Protecting America's Children."
Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) asked the governor to appear before the committee stating, "To date, Congress has not heard testimony from you on the Flint water crisis. Unfortunately, a prior Congressional hearing this week did not include top state officials, including emergency financial managers appointed by you to run the city of Flint. Seeing how it was your administration’s decisions that led to this public health crisis, including Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law, we believe it is important to hear testimony from you on this matter."
“House Democrats are committed to getting Flint families and children – who are the victims in this state-created crisis – the immediate and long-term resources they need to overcome this crisis."
The committee does not have subpoena power.
State and federal environmental officials were questioned at length about their agencies' response efforts last Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.