Cruz, GOP Block Vote On Bill To Resolve Flint Water Crisis

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 10: Presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives in the Capitol for a vote on North Korea sanctions on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidential candidate Ted Cruz of Texas and other Republican senators are holding up bipartisan legislation to address the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Lead-contaminated pipes have resulted in an ongoing public health emergency in Flint. Senators reached a tentative deal Wednesday for a $220 million package to fix and replace the city’s lead-contaminated pipes, make other infrastructure improvements and bolster lead-prevention programs nationwide.

A spokeswoman for Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, a main architect of theFlint deal, said lawmakers are “genuinely trying to work through” concerns raised by Cruzand other senators. Lawmakers hope to vote on the bill as early as next week.

A Cruz spokesman says staffers “are simply reviewing the bill right now,” noting that the proposal only emerged on Wednesday.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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