(MI) Petition drive seeking to overturn emergency manager law nears conclusion

[UrbScotty]

A coalition seeking to overturn Michigan's law giving more power to state-appointed emergency managers said Monday it plans to turn in petition signatures at the end of the month to put the law on hold and force a vote on it.

The Stand Up for Democracy coalition needs to collect roughly 161,300 valid voter signatures to get the issue on the November ballot. It said it has collected more than 200,000 signatures so far and plans to turn them in Feb. 29 for state officials to verify.

"The fact of the matter is we really can't wait anymore," said Brandon Jessup, the chairman of Michigan Forward and a member of the coalition seeking to overturn Public Act 4 of 2011. "We're doing great with the campaign and we want to move on to the next step."

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/02/petition_drive_seeking_to_over.html

I have been following politics since the Clinton/Engler era, and this law is one of the worst I have ever seen passed at the national or state level. It allows the Governor to suspend a community's democratically elected government. These local "emergency managers" have the power to sell city assets, break union contracts, and so much more.

Chris at www.eclectablog.com has much more on the law.

[Carla in Sequim]

1. This is so outrageous!

Ed and Rachel have talked about this a lot. They are trying to get those poor people out of Benton Harbor so a company (Whirlpool?) can build a golf course there for the Romneys of the world.
I had no idea there was a petition drive. So happy to hear it. As we speak, a radio station has been closed down and all assets are for sale. Is this 21st century America or the twilight zone? What in the hell is going on!
I was so upset when teabaggers took over the House but the devestation being done at state level is what needs to have attention paid to. And reversed in November.
It is going to be a long and ugly slog to November.

We must stay vigilent, focused and united. If anyone isn't happy with President Obama I'm sorry but he is taking us in the right direction, and going as fast as he can. He stands for hope. The conservatives stand for hopelessness. The choice is clear. Do we want to go forward or do we want to set our clocks back 100 years.

[msongs]

2. remember when we had FEDS who protected citizens from this kind of unconstitution criminality? nt

[muntrv]

3. A column in AnnArbor.com is defending the EM statute, saying bankruptcy is worse.

http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/threat-of-bankruptcy-should-frighten-financially-strapped-michigan-cities/