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Petition Drive About Emergency Manager Law Moves Ahead

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - A petition drive aimed at giving Michigan voters a chance to decide whether the state's tough emergency manager law should be repealed is moving ahead.

The Detroit News reports Wednesday that the group Michigan Forward that's organizing the drive has more than 155,000 signatures and needs about 161,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.

The group's founder Brandon Jessup says he hopes to gather 200,000 signatures by January, two months before the March deadline.

The update comes as state review of Detroit's finances is taking place. On Tuesday, State Treasurer Andy Dillon said he expects a decision on whether there is financial stress in the city before the 30-day period ends next month. (Read more, here)

The state says the current law could be suspended pending a vote if backers get enough verified signatures. The previous emergency manager law would be in place and an emergency manager still could be appointed for Detroit.

Michigan Congressman John Conyers is also asking the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to review and possibly challenge the constitutionality of the new Emergency Manager law. (Read more, here)

TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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