The Democratic National Committee announced today [Sunday, February 7, 2016] a debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will take place in Flint, Michigan on Sunday, March 6 and broadcast on CNN.
The duo are currently stumping in New Hampshire in the lead-up to the state’s primary on Tuesday, February 9 (with a narrow victory going to Clinton in last week’s Iowa Caucuses). This particular debate in Flint will take place two days before the Michigan and Mississippi primaries.
“Our Democratic candidates have run spirited campaigns focused on how to best move our country forward, and our upcoming debate in Flint, Michigan is a critical setting to highlight what’s at stake in these elections,” said DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “This debate is an opportunity to elevate the very serious issues facing the residents of Flint, and it’s also an opportunity to remind voters what Democratic leadership can do for the economy — so that everyone in America has a fair shot.”
The “Flint Water Crisis” started in April 2014. After Flint changed its water source from treated Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water (sourced from Lake Huron as well as the Detroit River) to the Flint River, its drinking water had a series of problems culminating with lead contamination, creating a serious public health danger. The corrosive Flint River water caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply, causing extremely elevated levels of lead.
In Flint, between 6,000 and 12,000 children have been exposed to drinking water with high levels of lead and are experiencing a range of serious health problems. The water change is also a possible cause of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the county, killing 10 people and affected another 77. President Obama has thus far allocated $80 million in government aid to Flint and Bernie Sanders has called for the resignation of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
