From Michigan Liberal:
Robert King opened the first segment, and [Dem. Senate Minority Leader] Gretchen Whitmer announced a drive to enshrine collective batrgaining rights in the state constitution, as 5,000 people from around Michigan chanted, waved signs, and announced opposition to the governor's proposed budget plans. Shortly after the planned program -- which also included short speeches from Gilda Jacobs (Michigan League of Human Services), Cyndi Roper (Clean Water Action), and David Hecker (AFT) -- protesters flooded into the Capitol building.
A second segment is set to commence at 2 p.m., and a third at 4:30 p.m.
From Progress Michigan:
Lansing capitol protest est. @ 8,000 with more on the way after school is out
Meanwhile, the Detroit Free Press has come up with the most delusional, pie-in-the-sky editorial I've seen since the WMD/War-of-Necessity nonsense we were sold back in 2002-2003, in defense of Snyder and the Michigan GOP's jaw-dropping "Emergency Financial Manager" bill (emphasis mine):
Editorial: New state financial tools will help fix budgets, not bust unions
The world didn't stop turning, immolate or collapse yesterday when the Michigan House of Representatives approved important reforms for the state's emergency financial manager law. The only approval now remaining is Gov. Rick Snyder's, and he's expected to sign the bills.
We suspect that the fears the legislation will provide the pretext for emergency managers to run roughshod over the democratic process in general and public employee unions in particular will prove greatly exaggerated. Still, the new powers being granted to the governor and the treasurer to intervene in financially failing local jurisdictions are best used sparingly.
Michigan shouldn't see a rash of state takeovers behind the new law. In jurisdictions where the state does deem it necessary to assign financial managers, appointees should set aside collective bargaining agreements only when doing so is the only alternative to insolvency.
The new law's chief attributes are prophylactic more than anything else, designed to help state officials head off local financial crises in the first place. Rather than wait around as school boards or city councils ignore warning signs, avoid corrective action or indulge outright financial incompetence, the state can now swoop in early and demand substantive change.
How many wishful thinking caveats did I boldface there?
However much the Free Press my hope that this new law won't be abused beyond belief, it doesn't change the fact that it can be one iota.
Meanwhile, I was very happy to report that, judging from Muskegon Critic's excellent write-up earlier today, not only did yesterday's rally go well, but one of the leaders of the rally was none other than...
Lance Enderle.
For those who don't remember, Lances' last-ditch campaign to replace the repugnant Mike Rogers (R) in Michigan's 8th Congressional District was sort of a pet project of mine throughout last summer and fall:
2 Days for the underdog race of the year! dKos FP missing out!
Alan Grayson w/Darth Vader's voice!! GAME BACK ON in MI-08!
MI SoS obstructing Dem candidate from ballot in MI-08!
Lance's journey to the Democratic nomination was, to say the least, bizarre and surreal, and while he never had a serious shot at taking out Rogers given his late entry and lack of funds (especially in the 2010 meat grinder), he impressed a lot of people with both his tenacity and his cut-the-bullshit style.
Speaking of which, to give you an idea of what I'm talking about, here's Lance in action earlier this evening, taking on Ari Adler, the press secretary for the Republican Speaker of the Michigan State House:
Keep a very close eye on Mr. Enderle; I suspect that you'll be hearing much, much more about him in the very near future.