Daily Kos: UPDATED - And so it begins. Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI.

Daily Kos: UPDATED - And so it begins. Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI.

"As you probably know, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed legislation passed by the Republican-dominated House and Senate that gives State-appointed Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs) historically broad and sweeping powers. These new powers allow the EFM to cancel or modify contracts (including with unions) and even to fire the municipality's government.

Today, for the first time, an EFM did just that. According to a press release from the Michigan AFL-CIO, Joseph L. Harris, EFM for Benton Harbor, Michigan issued "an order prohibiting all action by all city boards, commissions, authorities and other entities, except as authorized by the emergency manager." Full Article Here | Daily Kos

Melissa Harris-Perry on the Demonization of Public Services | The Nation

Melissa Harris-Perry on the Demonization of Public Services | The Nation

"Hasn’t a shutdown been the GOP’s goal the entire time? The Nation’s Melissa Harris-Perry agreed with Rachel Maddow on her show last night that many of the programs—and individuals—that have been targeted for funding cuts are beloved in American society; post office employees, teachers, Medicare. But the Republican Party, with little resistance from Democratic leaders, has been able to successfully demonize these figures and programs."Full Article| The Nation