Like similar efforts to recall the last three Michigan governors, the attempt to recall Gov. Rick Snyder, R in a November 2011 election has failed. The Committee to Recall Rick Snyder spearheading the recall petition drive announced Monday that they have only 300,000 signatures, leaving them 507,000 short of the number they would need by Friday to make it happen. Instead, they will press on and try to get a recall election on the February ballot. (Incredibly, Michigan law allows a rolling three-month period for such petition drives.)
The recall is a union-backed effort inspired by Snyder’s Emergency Financial Manager law, which allows for the governor to review the financial stability of local municipalities and school districts and appoint, if he chooses, an emergency financial manager. This appointee has, among other powers, the ability to void union contracts with public employees.
For example, Roy Roberts, tasked with managing Detroit Public Schools, reportedly met with district representatives 45 times before implementing a 10% pay cut for all school district employees. DPS is running a $327 billion deficit.
Gov. Snyder has seen heavy opposition to the law from some quarters, but proponents argue that it is already encouraging local governments in the troubled state to improve their finances to prevent such a manager from being appointed in their area. Public employee unions might hate the new law, but so far they can’t find 807,000 Michiganders who agree.
