Tag Archives | EMF

An eloquent takedown of the Emergency Manager Law from a TEA PARTY candidate

By on June 29, 2011 in Emergency Financial Managers, Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Michigan, Michigan Republicans

A while back, I wrote a piece for A2Politico.com in which I took the Michigan Democratic Party to task for, among other things, not supporting the efforts stop Public Act 4 (or, as I call it, the “Financial Martial Law Act”). Subsequent to that article, I contacted the Michigan Republican Party and several leaders of tea party groups around the state. Considering their support of smaller government and less government intrusion into the lives of our citizens, the consistent stance from them should have been a wholesale condemnation of P.A. 4.

Not surprisingly, the Michigan Republican Party never responded. I say I’m not surprised because their silence on this issue is nothing short of pure hypocrisy — a position that is hard to defend.…


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Financial Martial Law (P.A. 4) repeal gets a jump start in Ann Arbor

By on June 26, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Emergency Financial Managers, Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Public Act 4

The effort to repeal Public Act 4, the Financial Martial Law Act, in Michigan got a great jump start yesterday when nearly 100 local activists, concerned citizens and organizers got together for an informational townhall meeting. The event was put on by the Washtenaw Community Action Team, a group that describes itself as “a coalition of local unionists, activists, students, workers and community members working together to defend and advocate for working people at the local, state and national level”. You can visit their Facebook page HERE.

All photos except the last one by Beth Hay. Used with permission.

The event started off with me giving an overview of P.A.…


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BREAKING: Michigan Democratic Party will not support recalls or repeal of EFM law

By on May 11, 2011 in Benton Harbor, Emergency Financial Managers, Joe Harris, Michigan

I have received information that Michigan Democratic Party chair, Mark Brewer, met with at least some Benton Harbor City Commissioners this week. By now, you’ve probably hear that these Commissioners have been relieved of duty by Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) Joseph Harris.

At that meeting, I am told, Brewer stated that the MDP will not be supporting any of the recall efforts around the state to recall vulnerable Republicans and Governor Rick Snyder or the effort to citizens’ effort to repeal the new EFM law.

I will have more on the absence of the state-level Democratic Party (and others) in the ongoing situation in Benton Harbor and the fight against the draconian EFM law, in general, so stay tuned.…


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UPDATED: And so it begins. Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI.

By on April 15, 2011 in Benton Harbor, Emergency Financial Managers, Joe Harris, Michigan, Rick Snyder

NOTE: I have an important update to this entry up titled “How Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is quietly & intentionally creating more Benton Harbors” that you may find of interest.

NOTE 2: A second update is here: Benton Harbor Emergency Financial Mgr. gets right to work and shows how Harris is already at work, rejiggering two city development commissions.

As you probably know, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed legislation passed by the Republican-dominated House and Senate that gives State-appointed Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs) historically broad and sweeping powers. These new powers allow the EFM to cancel or modify contracts (including with unions) and even to fire the municipality’s government.…


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