Michigan Governor Rick Snyder

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Governor Rick Snyder wants to improve the state’s response time to PFAS chemicals. They’ve been found in groundwater, surface water, and drinking water across the state. Snyder issued a directive on Tuesday calling on state departments and agencies to create a readiness and response plan. 

“We want to be ready in case something else happens, how do we respond as quickly and effectively as possible and that’s what this is about,” said Snyder spokesperson Ari Adler.

KALAMAZOO, MI (AP)--   Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says attacks on a woman accusing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct could deter people with similar stories to contact authorities.

The Republican governor spoke Monday at Western Michigan University during a summit aimed at ending sexual assaults. He said hatred directed at Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford is "not appropriate."

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Governor Snyder is urging lawmakers to approve his proposals for cleaning up the environment and improving Michigan’s water infrastructure.  

The governor wants to see more investment in brownfield cleanup, solid waste management and recycling.  He says increasing the state’s landfill tipping fees – currently the lowest in the Great Lakes region – would generate nearly $70 million a year toward those programs.

LANSING, MI--   Governor Rick Snyder has sent FEMA a letter appealing its decision to deny individual assistance to Houghton, Gogebic and Menominee counties for flood damage.

A presidential disaster declaration was issued and public assistance approved earlier this month, but FEMA said the damage wasn’t severe enough to warrant aid to homeowners.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Governor Rick Snyder is not endorsing a candidate for governor.

Attorney General Bill Schuette won his party’s nomination after Tuesday’s primary. Schuette went up against Snyder’s own Lieutenant Governor, Brian Calley.

Snyder and Schuette have had a fraught relationship. Schuette is currently prosecuting several people in Snyder’s administration over the Flint Water Crisis, and Snyder backed Calley during the primary.

But now, Snyder says he’s just going to focus on being a governor.

LANSING, MI-- The following was released from Governor Rick Snyder's office:

Gov. Rick Snyder today announced President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster area for three counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula due to severe storms on June 16-17 that resulted in severe flood damage. The affected counties include: Houghton, Gogebic and 

Menominee.

LANSING, MI (AP)--   Governor Rick Snyder has established a state ombudsman and an interagency group to handle concerns regarding potential environmental justice issues. 

Snyder issued an executive order Wednesday creating the ombudsman position to serve as a statewide point of contact for the public to raise concerns over areas that are vulnerable to environmental hazards.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Governor Rick Snyder will not lower the state’s standards for dumping ballast water in the Great Lakes. 

He vetoed a bill with the changes Friday because he’s concerned about invasive species.

Ballast water is collected by large ships in one body of water to help stabilize the ship. Then it’s dumped into other bodies of water, along with whatever plant and animal species collected with it.

LANSING, MI (AP)--   Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a $16.8 billion education budget that includes a sizable increase in base aid for lower-funded K-12 districts in Michigan.

The outgoing Republican governor approved his final education budget Thursday.

It adds $120 to $240 for each student compared to last year's budget. It's the largest increase in 17 years.

The budget also buoys career and technical training — a priority of Snyder's — by funding high schools up to $50 more per student in those programs.

LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   Governor Rick Snyder signed the state’s general fund spending plan for fiscal year 2019 Thursday, and it includes a provision that his administration won’t enforce.

The provision would cut funding to Planned Parenthood. It requires county health departments to favor family planning clinics that don’t offer abortions. Under state law, public money already cannot be directly used for abortions – so this is money that would go toward unrelated services.