Detroit consent deal lawsuit draws fire in Lansing

"I would say they might be dragging their feet," said state Sen. Judy Emmons.

The out state Republican lawmaker along with suburban Republicans are critical of the Detroit City Council for trying to undo the consent agreement reached with the governor in April.  An Oakland County Republican says he's had it with the city.

"I think that we need to step up to the plate and go down to Detroit and, you know, put the emergency manager in place," said Sen. Mike Kowall.  "I've had it, completely had it."

A Macomb County senator credits the governor with walking the extra mile to work with the city to avoid an emergency manager, but now he has this warning.

"If they don't want an emergency management, they better drop that suit," said Sen. Jack Brandenburg.  "I think they have overcooked his grits."

A Detroit Democrat contends the city attorney was required to file the lawsuit and he blames those at this eleventh hour who say they want to help the city by demanding the suit be dropped.

"And now we are at the brink of fiscal apocalypse and everyone wants to come together to do something? I think that's absurd.  I think that is outrageous," said Sen. Coleman Young, Junior.

The Senate Republican leader is pushing legislation to construct the Detroit street lighting system and this flap over the lawsuit, he says, makes it tougher to find Republican votes.

"There's no question about it," said Sen. Randy Richardville.  When the senators that are trying desperately to help out a city that's got some real problems and yet all along the way we're getting kicked back by the very people we are trying to help."

At the end of the week, the question is will there be payless paydays in Motown?