Michigan's newly elected Republican Governor Rick Snyder and the Republican controlled House have really been busy. They have passed a Bill (House Bill 4214 (2011)) aka "Michigan Public Act #4" which authorizes the Governor to seize control of cities, townships, schools, etc. A Summary of the Act: "Authorizes the State Financial Authority to conduct preliminary reviews of the financial conditions of units of local government upon the occurrence of any one of 18 statutory conditions. (Fail one and you're done) Authorizes an appointed Financial Review Team to conduct a full review of a local unit and report to the Governor whether a financial emergency exists. If, after statutory due process has been accorded to local officials, the Governor confirms the existence of a financial emergency, the Governor then is required to declare the unit of local government to be in receivership and to appoint an emergency manager. (THAT doesn't sound good lol) Act 4 is the only Michigan statute that authorizes municipalities (albeit with State approval) to proceed under federal bankruptcy laws. PA 4 replaces PA 72 of 1990, the Local Government Fiscal Responsibility Act." Can be found at: Michigan Legislature - House Bill 4214 (2011) Text link to the Bill: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/htm/2011-PA-0004.htm A .org blog about the issue: Dismantling Democracy in Michigan - Progress Michigan A map (with legend) showing areas already targeted by the state. A few of them have already been taken over by order of the Governor. Progress Michigan A summary from the map site above: "The much despised Emergency Manager law gives Snyder the power to hand pick emergency managers, who then have the authority to take the following actions: Consolidate or dissolve local governments and dismiss the officials elected by the people. Consolidate or dissolve school districts, close schools, and dismiss elected school board members. Sell off public property. Public. Property. Parks, buildings, licenses, permits, and so forth. All of it. Privatize government services, with all that entails. Shred all contracts agreed to by local governments and schools, including union contracts." This act really doesn't affect me, since I don't own much and don't care about laws anyway... (laughs) ...but how would you like it if Donald Trump actually won the presidency and decided to adopt these practices... how would you feel if Obama did this? Is it illegal seizure? Is this responsible government? Is this thread lame? (laughs) Personally, I think it was well known he'd take Michigan's public land and sell it to his buddies, but "It couldn't happen" right? Oh, from what I hear, other states are looking into this also... it could happen in YOUR state sooner than you think!
So much for Republicans loving small government. I guess dictatorships are OK though. [video]<object width="420" height="245" id="msnbc599e75" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=42809941&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc599e75" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=42809941&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">news about the economy</a></p>[/video]
I say the feds do the same thing. Obama can declare all Governors and State Legislators who have any financial difficulties to be in receivership themselves, take away all their abilities to govern. Then he can appoint an Emergency Manager to control each state under his direct authority. State owes too much money? ...sell off the states assets. Republicans resisting? They're fired, they can go home now and look for another job, elected or not.
I have to admit, this is an absolutely brilliant short-term move to force local governments and schools to balance their books. Brilliant for a business man, not a political party. The governor has put democracy on hold in Michigan though, and the cost to Republicans is uncertain at best.
