A package to provide $850 million in federal aid to address the infrastructure and health crises surrounding the lead-tainted water Flint, Michigan has hit a stumbling block on its way to a floor vote in the Senate: Ted Cruz placed a “soft hold” on the proposal so he could study it, a representative told Politico Thursday.

Republicans had agreed to fund the aid package after Senate Democrats conceded to slashing a loan program for vehicle manufacturing, a program for which Michigan’s senators had advocated.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) described Cruz’s actions as “not a very smart move for a man who’s going to be in a primary in Michigan on March 8.”

Ted Cruz’s campaign had previously shown its support for those affected by the lead contamination crisis in Flint by distributing bottled water in January — but only to clinics approved by an anti-abortion advocacy group. According to a Cruz spokesperson at the time, the water donation demonstrated “the pro-life values of Senator Cruz.”