FLINT (WKZO-AM) — Gov. Rick Snyder has issued a press release, saying the U.S. Department of Agriculture has turned down the state’s request to send supplemental funding through the Women, Infants and Children program to improve the nutrition of children in Flint.
They say it’s because the state asked for it to cover children up to the age of ten, and their rules limit the supplemental payments to the families who have children under five. They say it would take congressional action to meet Michigan’s request.
Snyder is now calling on agriculture officials to waive the rules and provide the assistance anyway, saying good nutrition is part of the doctor-recommended recovery process for children exposed to lead.
This weekend, the campaign of presidential candidate Hilary Clinton proposed a Democratic debate be held in Flint. The Democrats have just agreed to an additional debate in New Hampshire and talks are ongoing to schedule others.
“We should use the spotlight of the presidential campaign to keep the focus on Flint, and to lift up the historic underlying issues that Flint and too many other predominantly low-income communities of color across America are struggling with every day,” Clinton campaign chairperson John Podesta said.
The Michigan primary is March 8.
– John McNeill
