Michigan governor’s popularity slides; questions arise about new PR consultants

Nearly 70 percent of Michiganders disapprove of Gov. Rick Snyder’s handling of the water crisis in Flint. He pledged transparency but won’t reveal who is paying the two PR firms he’s just hired.

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Water’s not the only thing that smells foul in Michigan.

First, there’s a new poll that has revealed Gov. Rick Snyder’s job performance has tanked since the lead-contaminated water crisis gained national attention this month. The Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday that seven in 10 state residents disapprove of how Snyder has handled the Flint water emergency.

Second, news that Snyder has retained not one, but two public relations companies to guide him through the lead contamination crisis, has raised red flags. Snyder’s repeated pledges for transparency in the wake of the public health emergency appears disingenuous, according to journalists and citizens alike.

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