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Detroit Bankruptcy Clears First Big Hurdle

The $195 million dollar state contribution to the Detroit bankruptcy settlement cleared its first major hurdle Thursday as the state House approved the payment by a wide margin.

We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.

Applause erupted as the final bill in the Detroit package was approved by a lopsided majority. 

There were plenty of complaints about parts of the bills – such as years of post-bankruptcy state oversight, and the big withdrawal from the state’s “rainy day” savings.

But state Representative Harvey Santana of Detroit said there’s too much at stake to say “no” to the settlement.

“Do you really want to open the gates of financial Armegeddon and see what’s on the other side?” he asks.  “Do you really want to do that? Do you really want to play chicken with this situation?”

That “other side” included the prospect of pensioners forced onto welfare, auctioning off masterpieces owned by the Detroit Institute of Arts, and additional months or years of litigation. The package now moves onto the state Senate.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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