LANSING - Incoming House Democratic Leader Rep. Tim Greimel (Auburn Hills) today denounced House Republican’s recreation of emergency financial managers (EFM) despite the voters’ overwhelming rejection of the system in the Nov. 6 election.
“Once again this week, Republicans are demonstrating complete contempt for the voters of Michigan,” said Greimel. “In November, 2.3 million Michiganders clearly demonstrated that they want transparency within their democracy and local control of their government.”
The bill would create a new act known as the Local Financial Stability and Choice Act, replacing Public Act 72 of 1990 and PA 4 of 2011, which addressed local units of government and school districts in emergency financial situations. Voters overwhelmingly repealed PA 4 at the ballot box in November.
“This bill is a slap in the face of the voters of the state of Michigan,” Representative David Nathan (Detroit) said. “Once again, House Republicans are aiding the Executive Branch and Department of Treasury in a complete power grab by placing an immense amount of power in the hands of one individual that is unelected and unaccountable to the people.”
It’s not just the goal of the law that’s offensive. House Republicans, stinging from a voter referendum last month that overturned the previous emergency financial manager act, have arrogantly inserted a token appropriation into the new emergency financial manager law. By adding an appropriation, Republicans hope to make the law immune to another voter referendum. Rather than imperiously imposing their will on the citizens of Michigan, Republicans should listen to the will of the people. Again, they refuse to hear the message the people of Michigan are sending them.
“Once again, Republicans are playing fast and loose with democracy in Michigan,” Rep. Vicki Barnett (Farmington Hills) said. “It’s a sad day when the people who are elected into office refuse to listen to the same voices of the people who put them there. House Republicans must start heeding the will of the people.”
