MI Court Lifts I.E. Suspension
The Michigan Court of Appeals has lifted a lower court order that delayed when two state laws took effect. The case is part of aprocedural fight between Democrats and Republicans at the state Capitol. Rick Pluta reports:
State House Democrats sued Republicans for ignoring their motions for record roll call votes on a procedure, known as immediate effect, that allows a law to take effect as soon as the governor signs it – instead of three months after the end of a legislative session. Democrats won a court order last week that says Republicans have to recognize their motions for roll call votes. It also suspended two laws – one that forbids graduate teaching assistants from organizing a union, and another that bars teacher contracts that include paycheck deduction of union dues. The Court of Appeals lifted that order and took control of the case. But there will be another hearing on the case before the Court of Appeals makes a final ruling.
EM Repeal Petition Opposed
The group Stand Up for Democracy has been trying to overturn the state’s emergency manager law… they’re trying to get a measure to repeal the law on the November ballot. They’ve submitted petitions containing more than 225,000 signatures. But, now, opponents of that campaign say those petitions are flawed. "The group Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility says the petitions aren’t legal because the heading is printed in a smaller font than what is required. A printer's affidavit says the heading size is correct. State election officials are expected to make a decision by late April," the Associated Press reports.
Flint Budget
Flint’s emergency manager and his staff are working this week to wrap up a budget plan for the city. Steve Carmody reports:
The plan will include a request for up to $20 million in bonds to help close the city’s massive budget deficit. Flint Finance Director Jerry Ambrose hopes the plan will be ready to submit to the state by early next week. He says the budget plan will address the need to do “less with less." Ambrose says layoffs and furlough days are likely. Michael Brown, the city's emergency manager, is negotiating with Flint’s city unions, hoping to reach agreement on deep contract concessions. Flint firefighters have already reached a tentative deal with the city.
