judge puts detroit on the spot over pension remark

[xchrom]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/detroit-manager-denies-bankruptcy-was-bag


FILE - In this March 14, 2013 file photo, emergency manager Kevyn Orr listens to a question during a news conference in Detroit. Gov. Rick Snyder announced that he had chosen Orr as Detroit's emergency manager. Testifying on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, the fourth day of a trial to determine whether Detroit is eligible to fix its finances in bankruptcy court, Orr said he received a couple of counter-proposals from creditors, but none from unions or retirees before filing for bankruptcy protection in July. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT (AP) — A judge deciding whether Detroit can go through a multibillion-dollar makeover in bankruptcy court suddenly challenged the city's emergency manager Monday over remarks made during the summer suggesting pensions would be safe in any restructuring.

Emergency manager Kevyn Orr had told the public weeks before the July bankruptcy filing that pensions were "sacrosanct" under the Michigan Constitution. Judge Steven Rhodes interrupted friendly questioning by a city lawyer on Monday and asked Orr, "What would you say to that retiree now?"

Orr, near the end of his fourth day on the stand, answered in legal terms, saying rights to a full pension could be trumped by federal law in a bankruptcy.

"That's a bit different than sacrosanct," the judge said.

[xchrom]

1. BANKRUPTCY SHADOWS DETROIT'S MAYORAL ELECTION

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DETROIT_MAYOR_ELECTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-04-15-46-24

DETROIT (AP) -- A candidate once thought to have little chance of getting past Detroit's primary election is the front runner Tuesday in the race for mayor, a job that will have little immediate power as the debt-ridden metropolis is guided through the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history by a state-appointed emergency manager.

One of the top remaining issues for both candidates: Who can better work under the thumb of turnaround expert Kevyn Orr, who will continue to run the show for at least another year in Detroit - a city where population has dropped from 1.8 million people to 700,000, and political corruption and mismanagement have contributed to its ultimate financial demise.

Benny Napoleon and Mike Duggan have said they oppose state intervention in Detroit's affairs and the hiring of Orr to run its finances.

"I'm going to try to shorten Kevyn Orr's stay," Duggan told The Associated Press.

[last1standing]

2. Translation: "Kevin Orr, you are a dirty, malicious, greedy liar."

n/t

[gopiscrap]

3. Exactly