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MindMover

(5,016 posts)
Sun Apr 8, 2012, 12:30 AM Apr 2012

DEMOCRACY Hijacked.......

It’s much, much worse in Michigan than we even realized

Last night, Rachel Maddow broke a huge story that has been happening since Republicans took over in Michigan in 2011 and has gone completely under the radar. Since January 2011, 566 bills have been signed into law. Of those, 546 of them, 96.5% were passed under “immediate effect”. Here’s the video from last night’s show that will blow your mind. Pay particular attention to around 12:30 where they show it in action. It’s astonishing.

"This is new in Michigan governance. This is not the way that Michigan was set up. This is not the way it was supposed to be…Michigan Republicans are using what is supposed to be an emergency provision for everything, even for the most contentious and partisan and divisive things that they want to do.

Republicans, for example, used immediate effect to take away health benefits for domestic partners of public employees. They jammed it through, Governor Snyder signed it, and then three days before Christmas (awww), it was, “Hey, gay folks, good luck finding health insurance for your families. We just stripped your benefits on the basis of your sexual orientation starting now, starting today, effective immediately, Merry Christmas.” [...]

Republicans passed their souped-up Emergency Manager law, naturally, under immediate effect. They passed it on March 15th last year, the governor signed it, and it took effect right then — immediate effect. And then, less than a month later, Benton Harbor’s Emergency Manager seized all power in Benton Harbor. Took power from the town’s elected mayor and elected commission. In the span of one month, starting with a bill sponsored by Benton Harbor’s own representative, Michigan Republicans routed the democracy of that mostly-poor, mostly-African American Michigan town and they were just getting started."


http://eclectablog.com/2012/04/michigan-republicans-have-illegally-passed-over-96-of-their-bills-under-immediate-effect.html

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DEMOCRACY Hijacked....... (Original Post) MindMover Apr 2012 OP
K&R MichiganVote Apr 2012 #1
I keep asking this question and either no one knows or perhaps think I'm insane...BUT HOW do people Justice wanted Apr 2012 #2
I was stunned by Rachel's story mikeiddy Apr 2012 #3
This SO needs the boost! annabanana Apr 2012 #4
K & R n/t southern_belle Apr 2012 #5

Justice wanted

(2,657 posts)
2. I keep asking this question and either no one knows or perhaps think I'm insane...BUT HOW do people
Sun Apr 8, 2012, 09:04 AM
Apr 2012

in the towns taken over by Emergency managers vote for maybe state reps OR nationally?


I only bring this question up because you basically having a governor who has install--for lack of a better term--a dictator in the city because why--the citizens cannot "elect" competent administrators? I mean looking at this from the outside that is what it looks like.


This Emergency manager decides IF and when something happens in the town From what I understand you know like if the city council can meet etc.


With the national election coming up this year I would seriously wonder how the votes of Michigan citizens in these towns are viewed.

Remember in the 2000 and 2004 elections we have voter fraud like crazy. What is to keep this Emergency Manager from saying He will decide who will Represent the area for State Legislator and so forth?

Maybe I'm getting paranoid BUT who thought a governor would ACTUALLY take over a city's "governance"

mikeiddy

(231 posts)
3. I was stunned by Rachel's story
Sun Apr 8, 2012, 09:04 AM
Apr 2012

This is a seriously messed up power play. I can't believe it isn't getting more press attention and that it took this long to come to light.

annabanana

(52,791 posts)
4. This SO needs the boost!
Fri Apr 27, 2012, 01:13 PM
Apr 2012

It is 2/26 and the news gets worse and worse. Is there such a thing as a "return" to the greatest page?

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