A2: State Restructuring

The Detroit Free Press outdoors columnist Eric Sharp writes about Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s executive order to merge the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality. The column quotes Marc Smith of the National Wildlife Federation’s Ann Arbor office: “I think it’s a good idea to merge the two departments. It will help to have noncompeting budgets, and you’ll save money because you won’t need two directors and their staffs, two legislative liaison offices, two personnel offices. It’s a chance for the DNR to redefine managing wildlife, land and waters in Michigan and bring it into the 21st Century.” Granholm’s order also makes the director of the merged department a gubernatorial appointee. Smith says: “I have huge problems with that.” [Source]