One-on-one with Gov. Snyder at Mackinac Policy Conference

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder sat down for a one-on-one interview with Local 4's Devin Scillian on Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference. 

Devin asked him several questions on the most talked about issues in the state including the Detroit Public Schools bailout plan and the Flint Water Crisis. 

On the Flint Water Crisis: 

I think people have skipped over important pieces that have taken place. There have been three supplemental bills. There is over $60 million that has already been deployed. There is money available to do more lead pipe replacement. The city is going through their request for proposal. There is $2.5 million that could account for several hundred pipe replacements. We've already launched the Medicaid reliever program, people already are getting signed up. We have school nurses already in the schools. We've got the Pathways program with case workers. We've actually opened up more slots for early childhood education. These are all tangible things going on. We've been hiring Flint people to take over from the National Guard with the water distribution. And we want to do more job creation opportunities."

Snyder said the real financial support for Flint is coming soon, but he wants to highlight the state's relief efforts already underway "in the interim." 

On the Detroit Public Schools bailout:

We're working through the difference, with the DEC probably being the most contentious issue. The second piece that has some difference is the amount of money, in terms of investment dollars. But whether it be $150 million or $200 million, those are big numbers. So, we're working through that process. What I would say is I think it's important for people not to gloss over the fact that the historic debt of basically $500 million would get addressed. There would be a locally elected school board as soon as practical. And those are huge advances right there. If you go back two or three years, I helped bring up the DEC with the coalition. I believe in it. But if you go back before that time period, people would be cheering to see the historic debt addressed and get the school board put in place, and I think it's important that we have a discussion about encouraging the city to look at candidates and get some really great people, assuming we get this package through."

You can watch the entire interview above.