It’d a rare day that I disagree with Ed Schultz, but today I do. He compared the totalitarian moves by Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan to the USSR. Personally, I believe that Snyder is goose-stepping to the other end of the spectrum, as he attempts to turn the entire state into a Republican dictatorship. Snyder’s plan will violate the US Constitution if he signs it into law, but that matters little to Republicans. To quote their former leader, Potomac Pinocchio, “It’s just a piece of paper.”
Although Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) anti-union crusade has received the biggest headlines, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) is poised to sign an even more drastic assault on working Americans into law. Yesterday, the Michigan legislature passed a “financial martial law” bill that allows Snyder to appoint “emergency financial managers” with the power to terminate collective bargaining agreements:
Contracts & Collective Bargaining Agreements. The bill would authorize the emergency manager to reject, modify, or terminate one or more terms and conditions
of an existing contract.
After meeting and conferring with the appropriate bargaining representative and, if in the emergency manager’s sole discretion, a prompt and satisfactory resolution were unlikely to be obtained, the emergency manager could reject, modify, or terminate one or more terms and conditions of an existing collective bargaining agreement.
There’s a pretty serious problem with this power grab, however — invoking it would violate the Constitution. The Constitution forbids state laws “impairing the Obligation of Contracts.” This provision provides a robust limit on a state’s ability to dissolve contracts between the government and a private party. As the Supreme Court explained in United States Trust Co. v. New Jersey, state laws impairing such contracts must be “reasonable and necessary to serve an important public purpose.”… [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
Most states have provisions under which the state can take over management of a city or town that is in default, but nothing so extreme as this measure which gives Snyder’s henchmen dictatorial powers.
Ed Schultz and Lansing Mayor, Virg Bernero, fill in the dirty details of this onerous plan.
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Note that Snyder is cutting $1.2 billion from Main Street needs to fund $1.8 billion in tax cuts for the rich, but this goes further than just the normal Republican upward redistribution of wealth. It’s am assault on working people. If this stands, he will take every possible opportunity to cancel union contracts.
8 Responses to “It’s Just the Constitution, That’s All!”
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SIEG HEIL! The heavy handed authoritarian Republicans are trying to subvert the Constitution and impose one-party rule everywhere. THAT OUGHTTA TEACH DEMS AND INDIES NOT TO STAY HOME OB ELECTION NIGHT! These bastards have gone on a budget-cutting rampage that defies reason. And they’re cutting from the wrong sources!
EVERY REPUBLICAN MUST GO!!!
Jack, every Republican in office is one too many!
I am so glad I live in a blue state. They raised the taxes (state taxes) from 3% to 3.5% and there was nary a whisper. What these repub governors are doing to their states is disgusting. I see a lot of recalls coming for these douche bags. 😡
Ditto that, Lisa.
from my post today:
Those whose policies would bankrupt America, are enemies of America. Those whose policies do not defend the vote, are enemies of America. Those whose policies would allow unelected people to dictate decisions that effect the people, are enemies of America. Those who are elected to office by the people, then lie to the people, are enemies of America. Those whose policies would launch military aggression against the World without just cause, are enemies of America.
Tom, I see great minds still fall in the same ditch. Thanks for writing that.
i can add nothing to what you said Tom- thats it in a nutshell.
Thanks, Phyllis. It wasn’t rocket science. 🙂