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Snyder OKs $2.2M more for lawyers in Flint water crisis

Posted at 5:17 PM, Aug 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-30 17:17:39-04

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder has approved spending up to $2.2 million more in state money for outside legal services related to Flint’s lead-tainted water crisis.

Snyder notified the State Administrative Board of two contract amendments Tuesday.

One boosts the maximum amount for Warner, Norcross & Judd of Grand Rapids to $2 million from $800,000 for services related to “records management issues and investigations.” The second increases the maximum for Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker of Detroit to $1.4 million from $400,000 to defend against lawsuits.

Governor-approved contracts for services don’t need board approval, unlike other contracts.

Democrats, who say the Republican governor should pay his own bills, said Snyder has no “unilateral right to cut himself a blank check.”

Snyder spokeswoman Anna Heaton says $1.4 million has been spent to date.