More GOP Shenanigans: MICHIGAN Edition

[Tx4obama]

While the nation’s attention was turned toward the outrageous (and quite probably illegal) actions of the Wisconsin State Senate last night and the endorsement of that action by the State Assembly today, another new Republican governor was making an equally breath-taking assault on the citizens of Michigan. Today, the Michigan State Senate voted to pass the “emergency financial managers” bill, giving the governor the power to basically declare “financial martial law.” The bill is expect to shortly pass the House, and newly-elected Governor Rick Snyder has promised to sign it into law.

Just what does this bill do? Snyder and his supporters say it’s intended to allow the state treasurer’s office to spot local governments in financial trouble before they reach a crisis level. From The Detroit Free Press:

But if they need intervention, emergency managers should have authority to do whatever it takes to declare bankruptcy, or avoid it by drastic steps. That could even mean ordering millage elections or dissolving local governments of school districts and merging them with neighboring ones.

Basically, Snyder will be able to declare municipalities and school districts to be in financial crisis and appoint an “emergency financial manager” (EFM). These managers would then have the power to 1) seize control of local civil services, 2) dissolve entire municipal governments, 3) dismiss elected officials with no replacement election, 4) void union contracts, and 5) hand taxpayer money, services and powers to private companies.

Full article here: http://www.alan.com/2011/03/10/more-gop-shenanigans-michigan-edition/

[annabanana]

1. "dissolving local governments or school districts"

This phrase should send should shivers up and down the spine of EVERY American.

[dmr]

9. One person-one vote - poof!

I'm livid over this.

[bluestateguy]

2. There is only one silver lining to this bad bill

Someday there will be a Democratic governor again in Michigan who could use the law to get rid of a local teabagger government.

Just make up a BS financial emergency in some Red Republican teabagger county, appoint a union boss as the emergency financial manager, and dismiss all of the teabagger elected officials.

Someday.

[Bozita]

3. Instead of pissing everybody off at one time (Think WI), MI will have dozens of smaller POed groups

It'll be school custodians in Port Huron one day and fire fighters in St. Joseph the next.

Gov Snyder and his crew have already divided their opposition. Gov Walker never was able to do that in WI.

IMHO, the MI bill is the bigger threat to workers.

Does the fact that they trained 50+ EFMs last month and are currently training a group of 100 give you an idea of the scale on which this game is about to be played?

[sarcasmo]

4. Taxing our pensions, destroying the unions, stealing from what is left of the

pension fund will be next.

[muntrv]

5. Sounds like BIG GOVERNMENT.

[Tx4obama]

6. Here's some info regarding RECALLING the Michigan governor

Governor Synder’s Martial Law Prompts Michigan Recall Law Questions
http://www.politicususa.com/en/ric-synder%E2%80%99s-michigan-recall

[Bozita]

7. I'm putting that in the Michigan Forum. Thank you for posting it!

[blue_onyx]

8. I'm not sure if I ever posted this thought on DU

but I've always thought Snyder would be profoundly unpopular within his first year....to the point that he could be recalled. I can't believe some Democrats actually bought his moderate/independent bullshit. I would've preferred someone like Hoekstra win because at least we all knew who he was. I worried someone like Snyder would be able to do the same things as other Republicans but more successfully because he was able to go under the radar.