Tornado Alley (PROG)

[arizona1]

Mich. GOP seeks power to dismiss elected officials

Michigan Republicans seek power to dis-incorporate whole cities, dismiss elected officials

Republicans in Michigan have come up with a revolutionary solution to the state’s growing budget crisis: claim the right to auction off entire municipal entities, like cities, counties, school districts and water systems.

In a new bill, language exists that would allow the governor, or a company hired by the governor, to declare municipal entities insolvent. Amid their manufactured fiscal emergency, the governor or the governor’s agent would appoint an emergency manager to oversee all financial matters.

Under language in the bill, that individual would be able to cancel any and all contracts — including collective bargaining rights for unions — and outright dis-incorporate whole cities, dismissing lawfully elected officials in the process.

In short, “they want a corporate monopoly state,” author Naomi Klein explained during an appearance on Wednesday’s Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC.

This video is from The Rachel Maddow Show, broadcast Wednesday, March 9, 2011.
http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/03/michigan-budget-would-let-republicans-dis-incorporate-whole-cities-dismiss-elected-officials/