Congressman Kimble Crafts Emergency Manager Bill

My Friends,

It has become clear to me that the economic crisis gripping this nation is far worse than we had initially believed. Even if we were to adopt the entire Paul Ryan budget as is, we would still face unparalleled economic distress at the state level where spendthrift administrations make bad contracts and collectively bargain away the economic stability that so many of their citizens depend on.

For that reason, after Easter Recess I will be sponsoring H.R. 2341 to return financial sanity to the state level of our government. Under the terms of the bill, a select House committee will be appointed by Speaker Boehner to examine the financial records of all 50 states. If a state is show to be in relative financial health no changes will be made to the state's elected government.

However, in the event of clear financial strain at the state level, The Speaker of the House can appoint an emergency manager to take control and assume management of these disbanded states and their governmental agencies, selling assets, closing schools and eliminating all employee agreements where necessary. All collective bargaining can be dissolved if in the opinion of the manager, such bargaining poses an undo strain on the state's financial stability. In addition, state police, national guard, and prisons may be privatized.

When the emergency manager finds that the state's finances have improved, the state will be placed on a 6 year probationary period. After that period, elections will be held for a new Governor and all decisions will return to state control.

While may see this bill as a big government power grab, this bill will merely extend the accountability established for municipalities by the governments of Michigan and Wisconsin to the federal level. Financial sanity at the state level is clearly necessary for the economic stability of the entire country.

Congressman Jack Kimble