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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Michigan Groups Sue Gov. Snyder Over 'Emergency Manager' Law, Calling It A 'Power Grab'

Michigan Groups Sue Gov. Snyder Over 'Emergency Manager' Law, Calling It A 'Power Grab'

Lawsuit, Appointments Follow Detroit Education Plan Announcement

Nearly 30 Michigan residents filed a lawsuit Wednesday that seeks to overturn a law that gave state-appointed "emergency managers" near carte blanche in cases of state takeover of indebted municipalities and school districts.

The suit names Gov. Rick Snyder (R) as a defendant, and claims the law is unconstitutional because it suspends home rule, eliminates citizens' voting rights and violates the separation of powers. The suit also names State Treasurer Andy Dillon as a defendant.

The law in question, Public Act 4, passed in March and gave Snyder the power to appoint "emergency managers" in cities in financial disarray, revising an earlier law that allowed for the appointment of "emergency financial managers," a more circumscribed role. The suit claims the managers, endowed with fuller powers, have