And It Begins [[Federal Lawsuit Against EM Law)...

[313WX]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...text|FRONTPAGE

Detroit

— Opponents of Michigan's new emergency manager law, which goes into effect today, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit on Wednesday, saying the legislation deprives citizens of "constitutionally protected rights" and dilutes their vote.

A news conference has been set for 10:30 a.m. today at AFSCME headquarters in downtown Detroit, said John Philo, interim executive director and legal director of the Sugar Law Center, a nonprofit social justice organization.

Public Act 436 gives broader powers to emergency managers statewide, including the right to modify or throw out union contracts. Opponents say it too closely mirrors Public Act 4, the previous law voters repealed in November.

The lawsuit, which is seeking an injunction to stop the law from going into effect, claims the new law infringes on citizens' voting rights and violates collective bargaining rights and the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution...