Hillary Clinton

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2015 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event at South Church in Portsmouth, N.H. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

FLINT, MI -- The chairman for Hillary Clinton's campaign is calling for a Democratic presidential debate in Flint to keep a focus on the city's ongoing water crisis.

In a Jan. 30 statement on his Twitter page, John Podesta said the water situation is "unconscionable" and one that's been ongoing for years but "ignored by state government."

We should use the spotlight of the presidential campaign to keep focus on the water crisis in Flint. My statement: pic.twitter.com/5Alc83zYws — John Podesta (@johnpodesta) January 30, 2016

As the candidates discuss future debates, Podesta said "we think one of them should be in Flint."

"We should use the spotlight of the presidential campaign to keep the focus on Flint, and to lift up the historic underlying issues that Flint and too many other predominately low-income communities of color across America are struggling with every day," he said.

In a tweet on Saturday, Gov. Rick Snyder "What will help Flint more than a political debate is expanding WIC and Medicaid to cover Flint children."

The United States Department of Agriculture' Food and Nutrition Services denied a request by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to expand the access and availability of WIC benefits and services to children ages 5-years old through 10-years-old.

Snyder has asked the federal government to reconsider the request, pointing out in a statement that while WIC funding does not typically include children over 5 years old "the improved health and development growth that will come from better nutrition for these kids necessitates a waiver of this rule."

"We must draw on all resources possible and work cooperatively to meet the needs of the residents of Flint, both immediate and long-term," he said.

Snyder signed a $28 million appropriations bill on Jan. 29 that provides additional school nurses, EarlyOn monitoring for children 0-3, nutrition support, bottled water and filters.

Clinton has previously said Flint's water woes are infuriating to her and that "every single American should be outraged" during a recent Democratic presidential debate.