Hidden Power Grab Stops Communities From Deciding Their Own Futures

[marmar]

from OnTheCommons.org:



Hidden Power Grab Stops Communities From Deciding Their Own Futures
Increasingly states are quashing the power of local governments--and thwarting innovation

| by David Morris


In his 1996 State of the Union Address Democratic President Bill Clinton famously declared, “the era of big government is over.” And during his tenure he did everything he could to make that true—deregulating the telecommunications and the financial industries; enacting a free trade agreement severely restricting the authority of the federal government to protect domestic jobs and businesses; and abandoning the 75-year old federal commitment to the poor.

Seventeen years later I fully expect a Republican Governor or two to declare in their state of the state address, “the era of small government is over”. Because again and again, Republican governors and legislatures are preempting and abolishing the authority of communities to protect the health and welfare of their communities.

*Earlier this year Wisconsin passed a law eliminating the authority of cities villages and counties to require public employees to live inside city limits, which also voids any existing requirements.

*A few weeks ago Kansas passed a law prohibiting cities, counties, and local government units from requiring private firms contracting with these governments to provide higher compensation than the state minimum wages or require other benefits and leave policies. ........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://onthecommons.org/magazine/hidden-power-grab-stops-communities-deciding-their-own-futures

[The Blue Flower]

1. Death of democracy by a thousand cuts

It's hard to even read this without feeling sick.