Public Sector Unions Versus Taxpayers and Government in Michigan

Now the public sector unions in Michigan are challenging the state's authority to keep cities and school districts, as well as the state itself, from taking the necessary steps to achieve fiscal and financial solvency.

It's really getting really crazy out there in the land of public sector union "unreality." Court Allows Vote on Strapped Cities says this about the ongoing fiasco and financial disaster:

"Michigan voters will get to decide the fate of a 2011 law that gives the governor broad powers to appoint emergency managers to fix financially troubled cities after the state Supreme Court cleared the way Friday.

The court's decision to put the repeal of the law before voters in November pits labor against business groups over how much power the governor should have to restructure local-government finances and rework public-employee contracts.

Once election officials formally approve the question for the ballot, the emergency-manager law, strongly backed by Michigan's Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, will be suspended until the Nov. 6 vote.

Previously

• A Typeface Spells Political Trouble in Michigan 7/25/12

Labor-backed group "Stand Up for Democracy" had sought the referendum, arguing it gave the governor too much power. . . .

In a statement Friday, Mr. Snyder expressed concern that suspending the emergency-manager law "limits the state's ability to offer early interventions and assistance" to financially troubled communities.

State Treasurer Andy Dillon played down the potential impact of the decision. Mr. Dillon said the Snyder administration will urge the GOP-controlled legislature to pass a bill later this month that could effectively replace the suspended emergency-manager law with a new statute.

School districts in Detroit and Highland Park, as well as the cities of Flint, Pontiac, Benton Harbor and Ecorse are currently run by emergency managers.

The city of Detroit avoided a takeover by negotiating a consent agreement with Mr. Snyder that gives power to review city spending to a new financial advisory board with members appointed by the governor, the mayor and the city council.

Mr. Dillon said the suspension of the emergency-manager law shouldn't have much impact on Detroit's consent agreement. But Julie Hurwitz, a lawyer for Stand Up for Democracy, said the group plans to ask a court to nullify all actions taken under the emergency-manager law since its passage, including the Detroit pact. . . ."

Summing Up

Many Michigan cities are out of money. Public sector unions, however, want to ignore that simple fact of life.

Obviously there's only one solution that would satisfy them. Get the money from the taxpayers. Isn't increasing taxes always the solution for unions and "progressives?'

That one trick pony of spending more than we have is getting old and tired. Soon it will die.

Whether the citizens are ready or not, the fat lady is preparing to sing in Michigan, California, Illinois and elsewhere.

So get ready for a charter school or voucher system coming to a school near you. It has to happen soon.

Thanks. Bob.