Tag Archives | John Conyers

Congressmen Conyers, Clarke, and Peters request answers from Governor Snyder regarding their proposed Detroit Consent Agreement

By on March 22, 2012 in Detroit, Emergency Manager Law, Rick Snyder

In a comprehensive and sternly-worded letter to Governor Rick Snyder (pdf), Congressmen John Conyers, Jr., Hansen Clarke, and Gary Peters are asking for some answers regarding his administration’s proposed Detroit Consent Agreement.

The letter focuses on seven key areas:

  1. Failure of State to Provide Any Financial Assistance
    Governor Snyder is asked to explain why, unlike in other struggling cities across the country, they “will not consider the same types of financial partnership approaches utilized for cities such as New York, Cleveland, and Philadelphia”.
  2. Unconstitutional Limitation on Collective Bargaining
    During a legal forum held by Rep. Conyers last month, Kenneth Klee, a renowned expert on constitutional issues relating to bankruptcy testified:
    “[A]s currently drafted, the [Michigan EM Law] is violative of the Contracts Clause ..

    3. …


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Public Act 4 repeal signatures delivered + Michigan Emergency Manager New Round-up

By on March 1, 2012 in Detroit, Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Highland Park, Rick Snyder

It just goes on and on and on and on

Lots of news to cover today. Make sure you click through to the jump page if you’re reading this from the front page of Eclectablog.

  • Stand Up For Democracy coalition delivers 226,637 petition signatures
    Yesterday, the Stand Up For Democracy coalition and Michigan Forward delivered well over the 160,304 signatures needed to put the repeal of Public Act 4 – Michigan’s Emergency Manager Law – on the November ballot to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office in Lansing.

    Here is Michigan Forward’s statement:

    Today, Michigan Forward, the Stand Up for Democracy Coalition and countless volunteers and supporters representing the labor, civic, and faith based communities from around the State of Michigan submitted 226,637 signatures to repeal the “Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act,” known as Public Act 4 (PA 4).

    • …


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Wednesday morning Michigan Emergency Manager news round-up – 2/22/2012

By on February 22, 2012 in Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Joe Harris, Public Act 4

The never-ending story…

  • Muskegon Heights EM review team still hasn’t met – 3 weeks later
    MLive reports that the financial review team for Muskegon Heights schools still hasn’t met three weeks after it was formed.
    The review team assigned to determine whether Muskegon Heights Public Schools needs an emergency manager has yet to meet three weeks after it was appointed.

    “We’re really concerned about the fact that they’re not moving,” said Dave Sipka, interim superintendent of Muskegon Heights Public Schools.

    The eight-member team was appointed Jan. 31 and has until March 1 to make a recommendation to Gov. Rick Snyder about the need for an emergency manager to oversee the school district.

    • …


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Thursday afternoon Michigan Emergency Manager new round-up – 2/2/2012

By on February 2, 2012 in Emergency Managers, Public Act 4, Rick Snyder

This is becoming an every day thing…

  • John Conyers & Rev. Charles Williams confront Gov. Rick Snyder in Washington, D.C.
    While Governor Rick Snyder was in Washington, D.C. yesterday, giving testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education & the Workforce Committee, he was confronted by Congressman John Conyers and Rev. Charles Williams II about Public Act 4.
    U.S. Rep. John Conyers, an outspoken critic of Michigan’s emergency manager law, shared his concerns with Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday in Lansing.

    Conyers, joined by Reverend Charles E. Williams II of the Detroit National Action Network, discussed the constitutional validity and “inherently undemocratic nature” of Public Act 4, according to his office.

    • …


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Rep Conyers: US Atty General Holder ALREADY investigating impact of Michigan’s Emergency Manager law

By on December 6, 2011 in Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers, Rick Snyder

My, my. THIS is interesting.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is reviewing whether the state of Michigan can legally appoint an emergency manager to oversee the Motor City’s finances, Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, said late today.

Conyers said he spoke to Holder about his request that the government move to block the law.

“(Holder) said, ‘I’ve got my lawyers working on it right now,’ ” Conyers said, adding he spoke to the attorney general about 4 p.m. today. “He’s trying to find out if my allegations of great constitutional concerns are valid. That’s what he’s got several hundred lawyers for.”

This could conceivably be the biggest news yet with regard to Michigan’s anti-democratic, disenfranchising Emergency Manager.…


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Michigan Rep. John Conyers: Emergency Manager law violates the US Constitution

By on December 2, 2011 in Emergency Manager Law, Emergency Managers

The Emergency Manager law, Public Act 4, is alread being challenged on two fronts. First with a petition drive by Michigan Forward to put it on the 2012 ballot as a referendum. They are nearing their signature goal and, once they have enough signatures certified, the law is immediately put on hold.

Second, the Sugar Law Center and its partners are challenging the constitutionality of the law, saying it’s a violation of the Michigan state constitution.

Yesterday, Congressman John Conyers opened a third front. He’s asking the Justice Department to investigate the Emergency Manager law for potential violations of the U.S.…


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Big shake-up in southeastern Michigan Democratic Congressional districts & candidates

By on September 8, 2011 in Michigan

We all knew this was coming after the Michigan Republicans had their way with the redistricting of Michigan’s Congressional districts. Today we found out what the outcome would be. The 13th and 14th districts which comprise the area in and around Detroit have been rejiggered to force showdowns between several popular incumbent and freshmen Democrats. Here’s what’s going to happen:

  • 46-year incumbent John Conyers, Jr. will run in the newly configured 13th District, abandoning his current 14th District.
  • Freshman Hansen Clark is leaving his 13th District to run in the 14th District.
  • Two-termer Gary Peters will leave the 9th District to run in the 14th District (meaning a primary against Hansen Clark.)
  • 28-year veteran Sander Levin will leave the 12th District to run in the newly formed 9th District.

    • …


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Grayson gets first co-sponsor: Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

By on January 24, 2010 in Democrats, Michigan

Cross-posted at Daily Kos and Blogging For Michigan.

This one seems to have slipped a bit under the radar (though I did mention it briefly in blog entry yesterday.

In response to the odious decision by the U.S. Supreme Court this week, Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-08) has put together a package of bills he calls the “Save Our Democracy” Reform Package (H.R. 4431-4435).

On Friday, Rep. John Conyers (MI-14) from my fine state of Michigan signed on as the first co-sponsor of the Ending Corporate Collusion Act (H.R. 4433).

Now we’re getting somewhere.

From Rep. Grayson’s website:

Congressman Alan Grayson has introduced legislation to prevent a corporate takeover of government in America.…

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