Democrat utopia of Detroit to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Man, you have GOT to admire democrat government and management.  Look what's it's done for Detroit!

Home Opinion Columnists Daniel Howes
December 7, 2012 at 8:35 am

Daniel Howes
State laying groundwork for managed bankruptcy for Detroit
 Daniel Howes Comments 

Even as the state Treasury prepares to begin another financial review of Detroit's books, a plan is being solidified in the governor's office that would guide Michigan's largest city through what is being called a managed bankruptcy.

The working concept, still evolving, assumes that the state's financial review would find severe financial distress in Detroit, that Mayor Dave Bing and City Council would be unable to push through overdue restructuring, and that the process would culminate in appointment of an emergency financial manager under Public Act 72.

The case would be filed under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code, according to two ranking sources familiar with the situation, following efforts to reach prenegotiated settlements with as many key creditors — unions, vendors and pension funds among them — as possible before any filing.

"Clearly, we will always try to do that," one source familiar with the situation said in an interview Thursday. "You can move on a much more expedited basis if you can demonstrate that your cash is running out" — as Detroit clearly is with each passing week.

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Yee haw! Michigan to go "Right-to-work!"

Man, the UAW ain't gonna like this AT all.

And SEIU is gonna have a cow.

Imagine, throwing off the yoke of union oppression... in the heart of Obama union lacky-land!  The death of the extortion of public employee unions!

How cool is that?

Michigan Legislature OKs separate "right-to-work" bills to curb unions

By Andrea King Collier | Reuters – 3 hrs ago

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  Enlarge Photo Reuters/Reuters - Michigan Republican Governor Rick Snyder introduces Mitt Romney, U.S. Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor, during a rally at Lansing Community College in Lansing, …more  Michigan May 8, 2012. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook  less 

LANSING, Michigan (Reuters) - Michigan's Republican-controlled Legislature passed separate bills on Thursday aimed at making the home of the U.S. auto industry the 24th "right-to-work" state banning mandatory union dues, igniting raucous demonstrations that led to eight arrests.

The Michigan House of Representatives voted 58-52 to approve a measure that would make payment of union dues voluntary in the private sector, after Democrats walked out in protest at the public being kept out of the Capitol.

A few hours later, the state Senate passed two "right-to-work" bills for private- and public-sector workers on 22-16 and 22-4 votes. Each measure must be sent for consideration to the other chamber before receiving final legislative approval.

Republican Governor Rick Snyder has pledged to sign the bills when they are sent to him. Snyder, who said last year that "right-to-work" legislation would be divisive for the state, said this week he now supported it.

The House has adjourned until Tuesday, the next date when it could take up the bills sent to it from the Senate and the Senate could take up the House bill under Michigan rules.

Thousands of union workers converged on the state capital, Lansing, to protest the sudden drive for the law, and officials closed the Capitol building's doors for hours, citing safety concerns.

More:  God, I LOVE getting the unions neutered!.

December 7, 2012 at 1:00 am

Labor dealt crushing blow in another union stronghold

• By David Shepardson
• Detroit News Washington Bureau
• Comments 

A right-to-work law in Michigan, home to 671,000 unionized employees, could further deteriorate the membership, finances and political clout of labor unions.

"It would be extraordinarily damaging to the UAW and other trade unions like the Teamsters and teachers unions. It would be devastating," said David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

"I don't think it would necessarily mean the demise of the UAW, but it could."

Gary Chaison, a labor expert at Clark University in Worchester, Mass., said the legislation "would be the ultimate disgrace for the UAW."

"Right-to-work laws are highly symbolic," he said. "It shows that unions' power has diminished in heavy manufacturing.

"If it's defeated, it's proof that unions can still rally the troops and mobilize members and nonmembers alike. It would be a tremendous victory or a tremendous defeat. That's why it's so important."

Supporters say such a law could create jobs in a state whose unemployment rate is 9.1 percent, by attracting nonunion companies. But at the state Capitol on Thursday, UAW President Bob King vowed to fight on.

"The working families are not going to lie down and watch their state go in a negative direction," King said in an interview with The Detroit News. "Every right-to-work state in America has lower wages, lower benefits, greater income equality, more discrimination, less equality in the workplace.

"Right to work is wrong for Michigan. … We'll look at all of the options: recalls, ballot proposals, whatever is going to re-establish the rights of workers in Michigan."

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Clark County Commission race and fun with numbers... coat tails? What coat tails?

I'm giving this some thought because of a comment from one of the volunteers from the recount who had also volunteered on Madore's campaign; he assured me that Mielke won because of Madore's coat tails.

I wasn't so sure.  And in viewing the numbers, I'm now convinced that, if anything, it was the other way around.

Here are the final tallies for the commissioner races in Clark County:

Mielke                   91,139   51.72%
Tanner                   84,859   48.16%

Madore                  84,382    53.34%
Boldt                     70,521    44.58%

I believe that Marc Boldt was a political dead man walking for the past year.  While Madore's victory over Boldt was decisive by percentage, it's of some note that he received over 500 fewer votes than the losing democrat running against Mielke.  

So, did Madore win because of his political strength?  Or was this the result of Boldt's obvious political weakness?

We had two incumbents.  One was over-the-top opposed to the CRC scam, one was over-the-top in support.

The one who was over the top opposed spent a little over $20k in his campaign.  The one who was over the top supportive of the CRC rip off spent almost 5 times as much.

Directly, 7,000 who voted for Mielke refused to vote for Madore.  This is critical.  And it shows, I believe, that Tom won because he was Tom, and what put him over the top was the number one issue confronting this county for decades to come: the CRC scam and everything that goes along with it.

The one who was opposed to the CRC scam received just over 91,000 votes.

The one who turned into a rabid supporter received almost 21,000 fewer votes.

It's hard to see where the candidate who took home 7,000 MORE votes than Madore rode in on Madore's coat tails.

Just sayin'.