The next step is now commencing in the battle over Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s (R) law creating state-appointed financial managers with broad authority to dismiss local elected officials and cancel all or parts of union contracts: A lawsuit alleging that the law violates local residents’ democratic rights.
The lawsuit, filed in Ingham County (Lansing) Circuit Court, is being mounted by the Sugar Law Center in Detroit on behalf of 28 individual Michigan residents. The Detroit Free Press reports from Wednesday’s press conference by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Bill Goodman:
“This law violates one of the basic principles of democracy, where people get to vote and no one can impose a dictator on them. That is what this legislation does,” Goodman said at a morning news conference at Lansing City Hall. “It’s a power grab by Lansing politicians that’s going to affect communities across the state.”
Goodman said, among other things, the emergency manager law violates constitutional separation of powers by allowing the governor’s office to exercise powers granted to the Legislature. He said it also defies home rule in local communities.
