So said 47 Senate Republicans when they voted today against providing federal aid for children affected by the lead in those pipes. They claim they want to help Flint but they cannot agree on a funding mechanism. Meanwhile, the pipes are still corroding thanks to the junk that was in the Flint River water.

Even if they find a way to pay for it, Senator Mike Lee of Utah still has a hold on the main $220M relief bill for the city. Why? He claims that Michigan should spend its rainy-day fund down to fix the problem. Apparently he can’t distinguish between a loan and a grant. The bill specifies that the money will have to be paid back to the Feds. The city and state would rather borrow at today’s extraordinarily low interest rates than spend its emergency funds.

That right there is the same attitude that has kept conservative politicians from embarking on infrastructure programs for the entire country. Money’s cheaper than it’s been in years, but deficits!

Stupid people.