A state board Tuesday will consider two taxpayer-funded legal contracts related to Governor Rick Snyder’s involvement in the Flint water crisis. Democrats are blasting the governor for asking the state to pay for the contracts, worth $1.2 million.
Democrats say taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for Snyder’s defense costs. They’re calling on Snyder to withdraw the request and pay for the legal fees himself.
“If he refuses to do so, Democrats will move to cut the governor’s executive office budget by an equal amount," says Tim Greimel, the top Democrat in the state House.
Greimel says Democratic lawmakers will try to strip at least 800 thousand dollars from the governor’s office in the upcoming budget if the contracts are approved.
Snyder’s office says it’s appropriate to use public funds because he was acting in his official role.
