Flint court case claims at risk

Latest

Flint residents march in Lansing, MI at the capitol about the governor’s decision to shut down water distribution in Flint before the toxic pipes are fixed in May, 2018. Meanwhile Nestlé gets an all-you-can-drink buffet of Michigan water for a mere $200 annual fee, Flint residents still can’t trust that their water is safe.
PHOTO/DAVE OLDS, MICHIGAN SENATE DEMOCRAT

Lame duck poised to hijack AG’s authority
FLINT, MI — Giving new meaning to snatching Victory from the jaws of defeat, the Michigan Republican legislature is using the lame-duck session to undo the gains made by Michigan voters.
New legislation would gut the power of both the Governor and Attorney General. (Similar moves are being made in Wisconsin and North Carolina.) The bills would allow the legislature to intervene in any court case to protect the “rights and interest” of the State or Legislature.
This puts the court cases brought by impacted residents of the Flint Water Crisis in jeopardy! Under the outgoing Snyder administration, millions of dollars have already been spent by the state to try and delay, deny, or throw out our legitimate claims altogether. A new attorney general and governor gave hope to settling theses claims and begin to put this nightmare behind us. Furthermore, two state officials now face criminal charges for their role in the Flint Water Crisis. This could be jeopardized as well.
The latest Shenanigans by the outgoing state government is reminiscent of Michigan’s 2011 lame-duck session, where the Emergency Manager law was reinstalled after it was  repealed through a ballot initiative.
As this article goes to press, Michiganders are mounting as much public pressure as possible to stave off yet another blow to democracy. These actions include trips to the Capital, phone Banking, and more to stop this and other onerous lame-duck legislation.
In Michigan, we are still in Election mode!!

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Pushing People into a Really Bad System Will End Really Badly

President Trump's executive order fuses drug use and homelessness, ignoring that homelessness can cause or exacerbate substance use because people use drugs to cope with pain. Forced institutional settings rather than housing will not help the ill or unhoused.

Chicago Resistance Speaks: ‘Until All Are Free, None Are Free’

An uprising is growing as the government tries to impose a dictatorship. Chicago resistance leaders recently offered their thoughts in public remarks made at demonstrations and press conferences.

Los Angeles Continues to Rebuild and Resist

Angelinos, suffering from the profit over people economy, continue to rebuild after the fires and to protest immigration raids, while also experiencing joy in such difficult times.

Chicago Teachers Union Says: Trump, Stay Out of Our City

Chicago Teachers Union rejects any unlawful federal occupation of their city, while welcoming federal leadership that fully funds public education, restores SNAP, and expands Medicaid to healthcare for all.

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

More from the People's Tribune