The Governor issued a new Executive Order late yesterday regarding the consolidation of the DNR and DEQ.  Due to pressure from the agriculture and conservation communities, the Governor went back in and clarified the roles of the Agriculture Commission and Natural Resources Commission.  The issue of gubernatorial appointment of the department directors remains as originally ordered (moving those positions to appointment by the governor), but the commissions will be allowed to submit performance evaluations of the director to the governor, recommend removal of the director, and retain key rulemaking authority.  Here are the links to the Governor's press release and the E.O.:
The Senate is still moving forward with passing their legislative version of the consolidation, but quotes from key House members and the Farm Bureau seem to indicate that this revision from the Governor has satisfied their concerns and no further legislative action is likely.
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