In Michigan it's not just a Dem thing or a liberal thing or a union thing. It affects everyone by nullifying the electoral process. Getting the word/facts out to everyone you can think of, works to our favor as it has the potential to hurt a lot of people, not just unions.
Reinventing Michigan could mean ending collective bargaining, voiding labor contracts and even dissolving whole cities, according to legislation that is moving quickly through the legislature.
On Wednesday the state House approved a sweeping expansion of powers for the officials who will be appointed by the governor to take over towns and school districts that can’t pay their bills.
Under current law the state can appoint Emergency Financial Managers to temporarily take over the finances of local governments that have become insolvent — this has happened in Hamtramck, Highland Park, Flint, the village of Three Oaks, Ecorse, Pontiac, Benton Harbor, and the Detroit Public School district.
The new law, which was requested by the governor, redefines these officials as Emergency Managers and gives them the power to end existing contracts, take over pension plans, reorganize departments, enter into agreements to restructure debt and dissolve or consolidate fiscally troubled towns and schools.
snip
But labor and education groups and people from Detroit, Pontiac, Flint and Benton Harbor object to the bill.
“This is one of the worst pieces of legislation we’ve ever seen,“ said Michigan Fraternal Order of Police Executive Director John Buczek. “The people who are voting for it in the House are the same people who talk about home rule and local control and this bill completely takes power away from local community and gives it to one individual.
“That kind of dictatorial rule is not good for anybody.”
http://www.americanindependent.com/171005/public-employees-unions-condemn-michigan-emergency-planner-proposalAnd if anyone thinks Snyder won't really use these powers, then they need to ask why there are 50 people in training for these manager positions. I'd like to know more about these 50 individuals. I'm sure they are politically neutral :eyes: not!
The Treasury Dept. is in the process of training 50 prospective Emergency Managers. (from the above link)
And if they don't think their school district will be affected, they need to consider this:
Proposed school funding cuts and legislation to make it easier for state officials to take over fiscally troubled school districts will throw Michigan’s schools into poverty and uncertainty, education officials say.
“We are concerned as an association that the administration is taking almost a billion out of the school aid fund and giving it to college and universities,” said Michigan Association of School Administrators spokesman Brad Biladeau.
“If this proposal succeeds we’ll see cuts in excess of $700 per pupil. … There will be programmatic cuts. Many school districts will go into deficit, many will be forced to implement deficit elimination plans … a $700 cut is going to decimate academics in most school districts. No amount of restructuring can prepare you for a cut this severe this soon.”
Schools districts will be forced into state receivership and local school boards will lose control due to budget problems that were not their fault, Biladeau said.
snip
The state-appointed emergency financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, Robert Bobb, recently got approval to eliminate half of the city’s schools.
“What that means is that they are selling off schools to the charters,” Herrada said.
http://michiganmessenger.com/47133/school-officials-say-snyder-agenda-will-decimate-academicsI am really hoping for a huge turnout on Tuesday and Wednesday. This needs national attention, because it really is a national issue, just like in Wisconsin.
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