What if Obama Fired State Governments, As GOP Governor Snyder Can Do to Cities in Michigan?

[deminks]

And Walker Plans to Do?

http://blog.buzzflash.com//node/12616?utm_content=backtype-tweetcount&utm_medium=bt.io-twitter&utm_source=direct-bt.io

What if President Obama appointed "emergency financial managers" to oversee states in economic distress? What if the president also was empowered to unilaterally dismiss the governments of those states that were billions of dollars in debt and appoint his own overseer who could contract out public services without oversight?

That's a scenario that Charles Showalter, host of the Union Edge radio program, raised today in a conversation with BuzzFlash at Truthout.

(snip)

Many so-called "red states" lead the nation in receiving more federal funds than taxpayers of those states pay into the Treasury in income tax. That means if federal funding were cut to those states to match their income tax payments, many would likely be forced into virtual bankruptcy. Should President Obama then appoint overseers to administer those state governments?

If not, why should Snyder and his GOP cohorts get away with disenfranchising voters in local communities and towns at their sole discretion? Isn't that a violation of our constitutional right to vote for our own government?

(end snip)

Think about that one, teabaggers.

[DonCoquixote]

1. I wish to God he would

Though we would have to fight the Second round of the Civil War, as many of these governments are in Dixie, my own Florida being the biggest example.

[Imajika]

2. That is comparing Apples to Oranges...

The President of the United States has no such power in the US constitution. Some state governors and legislatures apparently do have the power in their state constitutions to appoint emergency managers over localities within their states.

[pintobean]

3. Self delete

[deminks]

5. self delete.

[walldude]

9. Off topic but I love the "Dark Side" icon you have...

ever seen this one?

[pintobean]

13. Thanks. I made it by layering 2 pics

Steal it if you want, I stealing yours, 'caus its cool. :-) I lifted this one from a music blog:

[bowens43]

4. Don't give him any ideas......nt

[bluestateguy]

6. That'd be cool

as long as that power stayed in Obama's hands and elapsed as soon as he left office.

"The entire state government of Texas has been dissolved and will now be run by an emergency financial manager appointed by the president. The new financial manager is a lifelong lawyer from the ACLU and the AFL-CIO"

[fredamae]

7. I don't think there is enuf popcorn on the planet

for us to observe the reaction in comfort. :nuke:
Yes, WI, OH and MI all have their local governments on the chopping block. Who's next? AZ? NJ? FL? AR? AK? ID? KS or NH? :wtf:

[Scuba]

12. Don't forget Maine and Pennsylvania. n/t

[Deep13]

8. There is a conceptual difference there.

States and the Feds are each sovereign entities, with the states being somewhat subordinate the the Feds. Cities are political subdivisions and are creatures of state authority. Assuming state law allows it, there is nothing wrong with a governor firing a mayor from a Constitutional point of view. Granted, it is boorish and undemocratic and an obvious attempt to impose their RW agenda on largely D. cities. OTOH, for the President to fire a governor--even if Federal statute law allowed it--would be a 10th Amendment violation.

[tritsofme]

10. Somebody isn't familiar with federalism.

Or they are being purposefully obtuse. Either this is allowed under the state constitution or it is not. The federal constitution is very clear on matters like this, not a good analogy.

[bluestateguy]

11. OK, but

the feds could easily say to the states in financial trouble, if you are currently getting ANY federal dollars for anything at all you will submit to a federally appointed emergency manager.

[tritsofme]

16. That would be coercive and likely unconstitutional.

South Dakota v Dole held that the federal government can attach strings to federal funding, as long as:

-There can be no surprises; that is, the conditions for receipt must be stated clearly and the beneficiary must be aware of those conditions and their consequences.
-The conditions imposed must be related to the spending in question.
-The incentive must not be so significant as to turn cooperation into coercion.

Not to mention the unlikelyhood of such a bill moving through Congress.

[Hangingon]

14. Basic high school civics should be required in DU

[bluetex]

15. Troof. n/t