The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. December 14, 2012 Michigan Approves New Emergency Managers Law Following Repeal by Voters ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lawmakers in Michigan continue to push through controversial measures before the new legislature convenes next month. On its final day of voting, Michigan's Senate has approved a new law allowing Michigan areas to declare bankruptcy or fall under the control of an unelected emergency manager enabled to fire public officials and shed union contracts. State Republicans advanced the measure after voters repealed a similar initiative on Election Day last month. Critics have described it as Michigan’s "local dictators" law.