Secure Adequate and Sustainable State Funding for Environmental Protection and Conservation
Inadequate conservation funding undermines Michigan’s future. Michigan has a constitutional mandate to conserve and protect our incredible natural resources and to protect its citizens from toxic pollution. We must find a permanent and stable funding source that enables Michigan to invest in our environment and protect human health.
April 6, 2010 -- A new funding system in MIchigan that provides benefits for residents and helps the state’s budget too? Yes! At the end of March, Governor Granholm signed into law the “Recreation Passport” system, which will increase the accessibility and affordability of our state parks and, at the same time, provide new financial support for our underfunded parks and recreation systems.
January 13, 2010 -- In October of 2009 Governor Granholm issued an executive order (EO 2009-45) that recombines the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural Resources. Michigan is on the verge of creating the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) that provides an opportunity for our state to take the lead, as it did in the 70’s and 80’s, as a national example for environmental protection and conservation. Today, the Governor’s appointment of Rebecca Humphries as Director of the DNRE takes us one step closer.
December 18, 2009 -- Bruce Rasher, the man appointed to oversee the transition that will recombine the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with the Department of Natural Resources, will be issuing a report and recommendations to the Governor before the end of December. Rasher has worked closely with the environmental community throughout the input process. Did you know that there are efforts underway by some special interests to construct a new department with weakened regulatory powers?
