Snyder, lawmakers have some leeway when it comes to public opinion
In Michigan State University’s latest “State of the State” survey of nearly 1,000 Michigan adults, only 16 percent said they could trust state government most of the time. Thirty percent said seldom or never.
In the same poll, 38 percent said they could trust their local government most of the time, with 19 percent saying seldom or never.
The responses have been fairly consistent over the last 16 years: Respondents trust their local officials “most of the time” at twice the rate they trust state officials.
One could suggest, then, that the unprecedented steps Republicans are taking to transform the relationship Lansing has with local governments and schools are beyond the pale.
But look what happens when you add the responses of those who said they could trust state or local government “some of the time.”
The trust level for state government jumped to 70 percent. For local government, 80 percent.
That suggests Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican lawmakers have some public opinion leeway to operate in. And operate they are.
Budgets approved this past week by House and Senate committees for municipalities and K-12 schools include what Snyder wanted and then some. The principle is consistent. Cut existing state aid and award some of it back to locals that demonstrate “best practices.”
Those practices center around two main areas, consolidation of services and cutting the cost of those services -- such as employee compensation -- in ways that don’t impair their delivery.
Municipalities would be required to prepare collaboration plans and demonstrate how they intend to pare the cost of employee and retiree health care. Schools would have to identify ways to pool non-instructional and instructional services that make fiscal sense.
Both in the budgets and in separate legislation there is likely to be a clear standard in which public employers in Michigan will pay no more than 80 percent of an employee’s health-care premium.
A new nonpartisan study makes clear the emergency financial manager legislation does allow for the ripping up of collective bargaining contracts, the neutering of local elected officials and, with approval of the governor, the wholesale dismantling or merger of communities.
The point is to make the prospect of an emergency financial manager so frightening that elected officials and labor unions will agree to balanced budget solutions. And if they refuse or can’t, then the state has an obligation to step in.
More rural Republican lawmakers who don’t represent cities or schools under takeover threat are starting to question how far Lansing should go.
Debating budget language that would require a state study of whether to merge districts with fewer than 1,500 students, Sen. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, criticized “mandates” from Lansing that violate local control.
“This goes against some very strong core principles that I as a Republican have long supported.”
Snyder’s view is that coming into office he faced three choices: Raise taxes and distribute the proceeds to locals. Let locals get to the point where they have no cash flow left and a mountain of unpaid bills. Or quickly seek the legal and budget authority to secure a start toward financial stability.
Snyder’s taking the third option. And trusting that the public is behind him.
Comments
godsbreath64
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
Seeing how the a2.con and this young lad with an oppinion is carrying the water before Mr happy fun ball, just go and remind the latter he shows himself time after time as only fear mongering flaming bigot and this vast history shows.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
First and foremost: Michigan is Bankrupt. It's income is below it's expenses. There is little hope that will change. They have tried every accounting trick in the book; changing tax payment schedules, increasing tax rates, using up all reserves, using Fed 'Stimulus' dollars for day to day budget, etc. The trend is for even more red ink. Keeping your head in the sand does not make red ink go away. Some action must be taken to correct the problem immediately or Michigan will do what California is doing - instead of sending payments they send "IOU's" or what the City of Chicago is doing - just not pay for months and months. This crisis is real - the Michigan tax base has been disseminated. Most assets across the state are half the value they were just 5 years ago. Gross sales figures for business in the State have dropped and are not near where they once were. That means tax dollars are smaller, much smaller. This is not a 'hic-up,' this is day to day reality. Yet Government spending just keeps rising. And that is the problem.
Diagenes
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
In regards to emergency financial managers, if the state has no oversight power than communities should not be entitled to state revenue sharing, or bail outs, when local communities mismanage their affairs. We cannot allow cities to enter into contracts they cannot pay for or buy $1000 library chairs like the Detroit Library did recently and expect the state to bail them out from their poor decision making. If there is a pattern of mismanagement the state has a responsibility to step in and correct the situation. The alternative is to end all state revenue sharing for cities and allow mismanaged one to collapse.
godsbreath64
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 3:57 a.m.
If arguendo, "The point is to make the prospect of an emergency financial manager so frightening that elected officials and labor unions will agree to balanced budget solutions" as this "author" confirms, then all questions have been resolved: Michigan is by definition a rogue terror state in the otherwise constitutional America. Is the author really sure "A new nonpartisan study makes clear the emergency financial manager legislation does allow for the ripping up of collective bargaining contracts, ..." or vice versa? A professional journalist really needs to pick this lead up. This polling warrants no less than a clearer scrutiny and ankle high credibility ceiling as this pattern points too, until such time. Nixon funded polling mills as well and he ended up splat a national/party disgrace. Michigan was positively duped by a candidate for their virgin public service in last November's electioneering. He was neither honest or forthright about his being on an unprecedented/unconstitutional mark for rescinding the People's sovereign rights to self-determination and liberty to contract, et. al. <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#42672552" rel='nofollow'>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#42672552</a>
grye
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 3:20 a.m.
What is better, let a city and its elected officials flounder in debt for many years letting the debt increase or step in and resolve the problems hopefully getting the city's financial situation fixed? This appears to be a proactive step in resolving problems before they get out of hand, not a union busting opportunity. If union busting is needed to resolve a poorly run city government, then so be it. Look at this with a positive attitude instead of complete negativity.
godsbreath64
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 2:49 a.m.
Well Roadman, Michigan's judiciary is headed down by Bobby Young of the MI Supreme Count. No one legislates more from the bench. ALL OF IT is boilerplate. He makes Clarence Thomas look like Louis Brandeis, by comparison. There is talk of legislation on behalf of the Civil rights of the good People of Benton Harbor. Stay tuned.
Roadman
Mon, Apr 25, 2011 : 2:15 a.m.
The emergency financial manager legislation was a blatant power play to allow the Governor to usurp the jurisdiction and authority of democratically-elected local governments throughout the state. The ability to impose this so-called "emergency financial manager" essentially gives the Governor the discretion to take over many local governments, including Ann Arbor, and lucrative public service union collective bargaining agrements discarded. I was stunned to see Board of Commissioners Chairman Conan Smith backing this new law. I believe that there will be a court challenges to this legislation.
15crown00
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.
trust not ANY politician EVER.