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Emergency Manager Foes Win Key Step At Court

LANSING (WWJ/AP) -  A referendum hoping to overturn Michigan's emergency manager law is headed to the fall ballot -- unless the state supreme court steps in to put a stop to it.

The Michigan appeals court says it will not take a second look at a decision that gives voters a chance to overturn the law. The decision means the referendum will appear on the ballot if the Michigan Supreme Court does not intervene.

Critics of the proposal had challenged the petitions saying the print size was incorrect. The petitioners have disputed that.

A three-judge panel at the appeals court said the issue should go on the ballot. But the panel also had invited the full court to take a look. The court declined Thursday.

The manger law would be suspended if the referendum survives legal challenges and goes on the ballot.

Under the emergency manager law, state-appointed emergency managers have the power to bypass collective bargaining and restructure union contracts as an avenue to civic cost-cutting. Opponents say the law is unconstitutional.

Meantime, Detroit City Council moved ahead with the appointment of two members to the Financial Advisory Board, as called for in a in consent agreement city leaders hoped would help Detroit avoid a manager.

Managers are currently in place in Benton Harbor, Flint, Pontiac and Ecorse, as well as schools in Detroit, Highland Park and Muskegon Heights.

 - Catch up on this story -

RELATED:  Detroit Councilman Calls For Appeal In Consent Deal Dispute

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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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