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Dwight Williams, of Midland, welcomes Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette as he signs books at the Torch Club guest night dinner.

SCHUETTE STANDS FIRM: Atty. Gen. Says "Nothing Off Table" in Flint

He Says Even Governor Snyder to Face Probe in Tainted Water Case

May 8, 2016       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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Amid growing indications that he is interested in becoming Michigan's next governor and published reports that he and the present governor have had a falling out, Michigan's chief law enforcement officer spoke at a dinner here last Wednesday night and pulled no punches.

Speaking to the Saginaw Valley Torch Club, Atty. Gen. Bill Schuette said "nothing is off the table" in the Flint water crisis "where things went so terribly wrong" adding that "more charges are to come -- this is only the beginning."

Calling Flint "the biggest political and legal issue in modern Michigan history," the 63-year-old Midland native vowed to "leave no stone unturned" and indicated even Gov. Rick Snyder would not go unscrutinized in the investigation.

Like "Joe Friday (well-known character in the 1950s television sitcom Dragnet), we're interested only in the facts," quipped Schuette.

He waved off with a laugh the MyBayCity.com opinion column published last week calling for Snyder to step down and for him to be appointed to the governorship. Snyder is under intense media and public fire for inaction in the Flint crisis. Recall petitions are being circulated and "Snyder Out!" signs have popped up in Bay City front yards.

The Flint investigation is an all-encompassing issue currently, the attorney general noted. "We will let the chips fall where they may," and "anyone who has broken the law will be held accountable," said Schuette, noting "I am the lawyer for the people of the State of Michigan. Nobody's above the law."

Deaths from Legionnaire's disease caused by toxic substances in Flint's water have been alleged and thousands of people, including many young children in poverty, have been exposed to the tainted water that may cause brain damage and other developmental deficits.

Criminal charges have been filed against three officials in charge of the Flint water as the crisis developed. Schuette commented: "We are hoping to put the state back on the road to providing justice and hope to the citizens of Flint and restore trust, faith and confidence across Michigan that government works."

Segueing to the national dispute over the nomination of a U.S. Supreme Court justice to replace the late Antonin Scalia, Schuette said the Senate has chosen not to confirm Merrick Garland, noting "that is their right under Article 2 of the Constitution."

President Obama "should nominate someone like Scalia -- with a conservative philosophy. Since he chooses not to, then the Senate should say no."

The attorney general punctuated his remarks with homespun aphorisms and humorous stories from his career that has included work in all three branches of government, executive (state agriculture director 1991-1993 and his present job since 2011), legislative (his three terms in Congress, 1985-1991), and judicial (2002-2009 on the Michigan Court of Appeals).

While an Appeals Court judge, he remembers trying to contact "some big shot in the state" who officials had found hard to reach. "My phone call went through like greased lightning: he thought the caller was Judge Judy."

Touting his book, entitled "Big Lessons From a Small Town," published by Arbutus Press of Traverse City, Schuette noted that his publisher, Susan Bays was in attendance at the dinner at the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club.

The 173-page book includes a recounting of one of the most significant projects of Schuette and his wife, Cynthia, the Michigan Harvest Gathering launched during a period of high unemployment in 1991 that has raised more than 9.5 million pounds of food and more than $9.3 million for needy Michigan families.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to a "Leadership Foundation," he said.

The book's foreword is by Mark Dantonio, Michigan State University football coach. Among other celebrities who wrote promotional statements in the book were former First Lady Barbara Bush, who lauded Schuette as "a friend and a true point of light," and James A. Baker III, former U.S. Secretary of State, who pointed to Schuette's "values and ideals like community service, loyalty and the power of prayer."



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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

tennis1960 Says:       On May 08, 2016 at 11:09 PM
Typo under the picture......But Ill vote absentee for him. Anybody but Snyder !!!!
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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