Back-Up For Emergency Manager Law Under Development

A coalition, led by Stand Up for Democracy, is seeking the more than 161,000 signatures necessary to suspend the State’s new Emergency Manager (EM) statute (Public Act 4) and place it on the November 2012 general ballot. Some polls have shown that as few as 30 percent of voters would support the continuation of the statute.

As coalition leaders claim the effort is close to the threshold for success in the referendum effort, Snyder Administration officials are growing nervous about the potential for the EM law being thrown into limbo and the resulting confusion for those local units under the control of an EM at that time. Most believe the suspension of PA 4 would revert the state to PA 72 of 1990, the former Emergency Financial Manager law.

Governor Snyder, Lt. Governor Calley and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) have expressed their hopes that a back-up EM law would be on the books prior to the signatures being submitted for the potential referendum. House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall); however, has indicated his preference to wait until the results of the effort are determined. Either way, by placing a new law on the books prior to the referendum, organizers would be required to again collect signatures.

The legislation under development reportedly would maintain all of the powers of an appointed EM; however, some “experience-based” changes would be made. Leaders were also reportedly debating the possibility of including an appropriation in the new legislation, rendering it referendum-proof.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, December 9, 2011 9:59 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters