Mar 1, 2011

Anti-union EFM bills in Committee Wednesday


The big government bills that will bust public sector unions and disenfranchise voters will be up for a vote in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 2.

The committee will take up House Bills 4214-4218 that will make it easier for financially troubled municipalities and school districts to be taken over by an emergency financial manger (EFM), and the bills give the EFM almost dictatorial like powers. The bills take the power and authority out of the hands of the people legally elected by the voters and places it in the hands of a person appointed by the governor ad the Legislature, and it allows the EFM - which is why Republicans have placed the bills on the fast track - to terminate contracts negotiated with labor unions in good faith.

Last week the House approved the bills along party lines, with one Republicans voting with the Democrats, and the Education Committee is already taking up the bills. Just last week the Education committee also voted out, along party lines, the Senate version of the EFM bills, Senate Bills 153-158.

Despite thousands of pro-working people flooding Lansing last week protesting against the bills and the many anti-worker bills, the Republicans are pushing the bills through with very little debate and at break-neck speed.

The Senate Education Committee meets at 12:30 p.m. in room 100 of the Farnum Building, 125 W. Allegan St. The meeting, like all committee meetings, is open to the public.

(Photo courtesy of Phil Reid)

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