State Rep. Jamie Thompson, of Brownstown, today issued the following statement after the Whitmer administration presented its Marshall-based Ford project plan to the House Appropriations Committee. The plan includes a potential $15 million in taxpayer dollars to help Norfolk Southern Railway Company expand its operations in Michigan. The idea was presented just weeks after a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in Ohio, causing toxic chemicals to be released. Recently, another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Van Buren Township, just outside of Detroit:

“Norfolk Southern needs to be clear about what happened and why this is happening. There needs to be accountability. The company needs to be transparent about what it’s doing to protect the public, address these issues and prevent future incidents before a single cent of our hard-earned tax dollars is handed over to help it grow its business in Michigan.

“These derailments have impacted communities and families. The Ohio crisis has uprooted people’s lives while leaving them wondering if the air they are breathing and the water they are drinking is safe. The recent derailment outside of Detroit provided a similar scare for people in surrounding areas initially because of the attention the Ohio derailment has been rightfully getting.

“I was under the impression Gov. Whitmer’s administration was focused on environmental issues, but her willingness to cut this company a check in the midst of these problems says otherwise.”