UPDATED: Ct. of Appeals rejects special panel on Emergency Manager law repeal petitions – referendum WILL be on the ballot

By on June 14, 2012 in Emergency Manager Law, Public Act 4

Halle-freakin-lujah

Information is just coming out but various news sources are reporting that the Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to convene a special 7-member panel to review the correctness of a 30-year old decision regarding “substantial compliance” of referendum petitions.

Because of this, for now at least, the referendum to repeal Public Act 4, the Emergency Manager law, WILL on the November ballot.

I suspect that those who benefit most from keeping the law on the books will appeal to the state supreme court and ask that they put a stay on the decision until a ruling is made. However, this is a huge victory and, hopefully, shows that our Michigan judiciary is not entirely a tool of the Republican party.

UPDATE: Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility will be filing an appeal with the state supreme court “in one to two weeks”. Of course they will because nothing says “fiscal responsiblity” like wasting the taxpayers’ money like frivolous lawsuits concerning the font size of three words of petitions signed by nearly a quarter million Michigan citizens. Disenfranchised citizens are worth any cost, it seems.

That, kids, is what they mean by “fiscal responsibility”. Sorta like when they say “create jobs”, they mean “restrict a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion”.

It’s getting so you need a goddam decoder ring or translation dictionary with these hypocrites.

UPDATE 2: Rev. D. Alexander Bullock, president of the Detroit Chapter of Rainbow/PUSH and a founding member of the Stand Up for Democracy coalition issued the following statement:

I applaud today’s decision and hope it is a sign that respect for the law and the democratic process remains a reality in Michigan. However, now we must push for the immediate suspension of all current emergency managers and hope the Michigan Supreme Court will not participate in attempts to overrule today’s Court of Appeals decision. Michigan citizens now expect to have the opportunity Gov. Snyder took from them, that is the opportunity to decide the fate of Public Act 4.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/jamie.marinelli Jamie Rosewood Marinelli

    It’s far from over, I’m sure. But this is a really great moment for the people of Michigan! After being totally disregarded by the teagops since Snyder’s hostile takeover of our state, this feels really good.

    • http://www.facebook.com/randa.morris.3 Randa Morris

      I have commited myself to only referring to them as the naz-tea baggers. If this gets to the ballot Michigan, if they don’t find another way to stop, silence it, halt it or just simply disregard it, you must act to limit the powers of authority now- this situation has become beyond dangerous for every Michigan resident.

      • cryingliberty

        I would be interested in seeing the fireworks if the state simply opted to ignore the referendum. Something tells me that if that happened, the public outrage would make the ’67 Detroit Riots look like a block party.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=731921527 Mary Aseltyne

    now, it they would re-ban unlimited firework usage, we could maybe get some sleep

  • http://www.facebook.com/memiller55 Mark Miller

    ‘For now at least’ being the operative words. With this Supreme Court, the law is whatever they say it is. So if they decide that 14-point font isn’t 14-point font, then that’s the way it is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/randa.morris.3 Randa Morris

    Is there still some small glimmer of hope left in the state of Michigan? Is there even one person left in a position of power in this state that doesn’t use it to trample the rights of others? We can pray.

  • Grandma of 4

    What ever happened to the appeal on the 3% Republican grab of teachers money. The appeal court decided in favor of state employees why not take care of the teachers appeal? The teachers want their money back so next year maybe we can make ends meet!! It keeps getting worse every day. I hope that any prospective teachers in the making get out has fast as they can.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.larose.31 Jennifer LaRose

    Does this mean that the Emergency Managers go away now?

    • cryingliberty

      Not until November, at the earliest. That’s when Michigan voters will have the opportunity to vote to repeal the law. Provided the state Supreme Court doesn’t find some other way to subvert the system, it will be on the November ballot.

      In short, this means it’s time to pound the pavement and start making noise about the referendum on the November ballot.

      • http://eclectablog.com Eclectablog

        Actually, once the Board of State Canvassers validates the petitions. PA 4 goes on hold. Whether we revert to PA 72 or just have no Emergency Mgr law at all is up for debate and surely THAT will go to court, as well.
        First we have to wait for the state supreme court to weigh in since Citizens for Wasting Taxpayer money have indicated they will appeal.

  • http://www.facebook.com/dave.helmboldt Dave Helmboldt

    I spent my summer with friends collecting signatures to repeal this thing.
    We didn’t get Snyder, but, maybe, we can get rid of P.A.4.
    My legislators in Lansing didn’t listen to us then, now, maybe they will.
    “We are tired of you hijacking our democracy.
    We’ll see what and how far the rightwing Rethuglicans get.

  • http://www.facebook.com/klgallaher Kenneth Gallaher

    The Nazis take a small hit.

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