Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has called for the investigation of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services relating to the Flint water crisis.
According to a release from the governor's office, the investigation will be done by the state's Auditor General and the DHHS Inspector General.
“The public health issues the people of Flint and Genesee County are facing warranted an internal review of how the state handled these situations,” Snyder said in a release. “That preliminary internal review warrants an immediate and thorough investigation. I want some answers.”
According to the governor's office, the investigation will look at how MDHHS handled public health issues related to elevated lead levels in blood tests in Flint, as well as the rise of Legionnaires' cases in Genesee County in 2014 and 2015.
Snyder asked Auditor General Doug Ringler and Alan Kimichik, DDHS Inspector General to complete the joint investigation "without sacrificing the thoroughness of the work they need to do."
According to the governor's office, the results of the investigation will be shared with the public when it's complete.
MDHHS released this statement:
"In response to Governor Rick Snyder’s call for a joint investigation by the state Auditor General and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General, MDHHS will fully cooperate with this investigation related to the Flint water crisis. MDHHS remains committed to promoting public health across the state, and welcomes further review of its efforts in Genesee County. MDHHS has been working closely with the Attorney General’s office in all facets of various inquiries into the department’s involvement with the Flint water emergency. At this time, MDHHS will withhold further comment on this investigation until its conclusion."
