Michigan Governor Rick Snyder asks for expanded Medicaid amid citizens’ heightened protests

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently asked an expanded Medicaid program to help thousands of residents affected by the Flint water crisis. The official has been receiving messages of anger and hate through vandalism over the prolonged water crisis.

Citizens in the area, who have been affected by a contamination of potable water since April 2014, are putting all the blame on the governor. More people are letting their sentiments know by writing messages outside Snyder's home in Ann Arbor.

The Flint water crisis was believed to have started when Snyder appointed a new receiver almost two years ago, Politico reported. The receiver changed the sourcing of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department's water from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the polluted Flint River.

The crisis is still under investigation -- one being done by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and another by a special group appointed by the office of the Michigan attorney general. The results were still to be released, reports said.

Gov. Snyder, on his part, recently requested for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to offer an expanded coverage for about 15,000 residents affected by the Flint water crisis, the Detroit Free Press reported. Priorities are for pregnant women and citizens under 21 years.  

"Children, teens and young adults exposed to lead need more coverage to get testing and the treatment they need," Snyder was cited in a news release.

Protests via posters made by Flint residents were increasing by the day, the Detroit Free Press reported earlier. A heckling incident happened recently at a local bar where Snyder grew up, the paper noted.   

Still, some citizens do not place the blame on the governor over the water crisis. Washtenaw County Republican Committee Chairman John Taylor said that Snyder stepped up to the plate and accepted responsibility for the water crisis.

"[T]his should really be about the people of Flint and what it's going to take to bring closure to get this situation resolved. I have to commend the governor because he has done what I believe a true leader should do ... He's not pointing fingers or trying to point blame elsewhere and he's working to find solutions," he was cited a saying.

As of date, the federal administration pledged to expand the Medicaid program for Flint residents. Some of the expanded services include lead blood-level monitoring and nutritional support for pregnant women and children.

Tags

Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder, Flint water crisis, Medicaid, flint river, Lake Huron, Detroit River, Detroit

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