Let me introduce you to a little place where common sense and logic DO NOT apply: It's called Detroit.

After determining that there really was cause for concern over Detroit's finances, the State Financial Review Team several days ago had drawn up a preliminary Consent Agreement to clean up the end result of Democrat Party controlled "leadership" of Detroit for over 50-years. Needless to say, city government was scared and livid.

Scared about losing the power, prestige and perks that come from their respective office, running a major metropolitan city.

Livid at the prospect of losing all of the above.

You can also say that they were scared at the prospect of facing all of the local unions just now coming to the realization that their Life of Riley is suddenly coming to an end.

Desperate to maintain some control, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing kludged together a counter-proposal at the last minute and presented it to the local press. To show the state who's really boss in Detroit, they conveniently "forgotten" to CC Governor Snyder during his European Vacation or State Treasurer Dillon who was just down the street at the time with a copy, instead releasing it directly to the local media.

So what was different?

The financial advisory board had been changed from independently body making direct decisions over budgets, employees and disposition of city assets, to making "suggestions" for City Council and the Mayor to consider. And oh yeah, the state gets to pick up half of the tab for the board.

Back to the drawing board.

Negotiations had continued while the clock the Financial Review Team was functioning under is getting near zero (more on that in a bit) and tempers were starting to flare up.

With Mayor Bing in the hospital undergoing treatment for a perforated colon. Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis and Council continued negotiating with the state.

The usual cast of characters jumped in at the last minute to divert everyone's attention from getting anything done and finding a solution including race-hustlers Rev. Malik Shabazz and Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Shabazz got everyone's attention when he chimed out with this gem at a public meeting:

This is going to get interesting.

Ummmmm, what are you gonna burn to the ground?

Getting down to the wire. Gov. Snyder tells Detroit late last week that they need to re-open their contract negotiations with the labor unions. The concessions agreed to at that point just don't realize enough savings. They also need to drop other items such as bumping rights, seniority rights and several other labor issues that unions just will not agree to.

AFSCME balks. City Council balks. City Councilman Kwame Kenyatta compared the situation to a "master-slave" relationship. State Senator Bert Johnson effectively dares Detroit to do absolutely nothing. He claims that Lansing won't allow the city to go into bankruptcy. He goes on to say, "I tell you, the state will pony up the money, I've seen it. But you've got to call their bluff."

Detroit City Council was to have voted on Monday about the now warmer and fuzzier named "Financial Stability Agreement".  Effectively, the Mayor and Council keep their legislative duties. A financial advisory board will be created to run the accounting side of city government.

No vote ever takes place.

At the last minute, another player steps in: Labor Catspaw and Highland Park School Board Member Robert Davis.

You may remember Mr. Davis' hijinks with his actions not too long ago in Highland Park.

What you may not have heard is that Mr. Davis has a few unanswered questions about himself regarding how Highland Park got to where it is today.

Mr. Davis succeeded in getting done what the unions and local democrats have been unable to do. He convinced Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk to issue a temporary restraining order on the grounds of that clock I mentioned earlier in this post had ran out on the State Financial Review Team. 90-days since their creation had expired and they officially could not make any recommendation to the governor regarding what to do with any consent agreements/decrees.

However, is this matter really stopped cold in its tracks?

The state has filed for an appeal to be heard by sometime tomorrow, but is it really necessary.

The Financial Review Team had already made its initial report on Detroit's finances. To say that Detroit's financial status is bad is the understatement of the century.

P.A. 4 still gives the governor only two options here: Do nothing or appoint an EM on the basis of the earlier report.

Doing nothing is obviously not an option.

But if local leaders want to whine, stomp and drag their feet and not promote a workable solution, a "nuclear option" is theoretically feasible for Gov. Snyder under P.A. 4 and will eliminate all unions stalling tactics in Detroit (and a disincentive in other places).

Under Section 23, I found this:

Sec. 23. (1) If, in the judgment of the emergency manager, no reasonable alternative to rectifying the financial emergency of the local government which is in receivership exists, then the emergency manager may recommend to the governor and the state treasurer that the local government be authorized to proceed under title 11 of the United States Code, 11 USC 101 to 1532. If the governor approves of the recommendation, the governor shall inform the state treasurer and the emergency manager in writing of the decision, with a copy to the superintendent of public instruction if the local government is a school district. Upon receipt of the written approval, the emergency manager is authorized to proceed under title 11 of the United States Code, 11 USC 101 to 1532. This section empowers the local government for which an emergency manager has been appointed to become a debtor under title 11 of the United States Code, 11 USC 101 to 1532, as required by section 109 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 USC 109, and empowers the emergency manager to act exclusively on the local government's behalf in any such case under title 11 of the United States Code, 11 USC 101 to 1532.

Governor Snyder can theoretically appoint an EM, whose first order of business is to declare the city financially unsalvageable. That person automatically recommends that Detroit directly go directly into bankruptcy. If done quickly enough, it should take care of this Sword of Damocles hanging over Gov. Snyder's head.

Democrats and unions thought that they had it made with their stalling tactics until their petition signatures are certified and voted on in the fall.

Let them try their antics on a federal judge.

I highly doubt that Judge would be anywhere near as accommodating with putting up with their shenanigans such as what has been done so far.