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Voters Will Vote on Emergency Manager Law

Posted: 10:16 PM Aug 3, 2012
Reporter: Fay Li

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After months of debate over whether a petition challenging Public Act 4 is in compliance with state law, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the petition heading is in 14-point type, meaning it is eligible to be placed on the November ballot.

"We're pleased the Supreme Court is now going to allow the voters of Michigan to repeal this law in November because this law is really a dictator law," said Ray Holman from UAW Local 6000.

Public Act 4, otherwise known as the Emergency Manager Law, allows a state appointed manager to take control of local governments' finances in financial emergencies.

Governor Snyder argues that the goal of the law is to identify emergencies before they become "full blown crises."

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, Public Act 4 will be suspended after the petition initiative is certified.

"P.A. 4 repealed P.A. 72. When it's suspended, it's our position that P.A. 72 comes back as if nothing has changed," said State Treasurer Andy Dillon.

P.A. 72, though not as far-reaching as P.A. 4, allows most local governments already with an emergency manager to maintain status quo.

"We'll be prepared to reappoint folks as emergency financial managers so that there will be a seamless transition to the communities that they are working with," Dillon said.