Mich Sens draft new Emergency Mgr law

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The leader of the Michigan Senate says he and fellow Republican colleagues are armed with a proposal to replace the state law that lets emergency managers take over local governments in case voters strike it down in November.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville told The Associated Press on Thursday that a draft is under legal review.

The behind-the-scenes effort aims to keep a form of the contentious law on the books. Richardville says it acknowledges some concerns by critics, who say it takes too much power from local leaders struggling with budget deficits.

The legislative tinkering is the latest twist in the saga of the law enacted last year. The Michigan Supreme Court last month ruled a union-backed referendum to repeal the law could go on the ballot.