November 5,  2009

               LANSING - Attorney General Mike Cox today said that Governor Granholm is using the state's budget crisis in a shameful attempt to grab control of Michigan's successful agriculture and tourism industries, putting some of Michigan's only economic success stories at risk.  Cox called on the legislature to immediately reject the Governor's executive order and restore control of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Commissions to the experts who are doing an excellent job managing these key industries. 

"Governor Granholm is using the budget crisis as an excuse for a short-sighted power grab that will not save money," said Cox.  "If the Governor was truly interested in game-changing reforms, she should have pursued the proposals of the Citizens Research Council, Center for Michigan, or Business Leaders for Michigan that save billions reforming costs like state employee benefits." 

"This executive order shares the same problems that her governing style has: it is incredibly short-sighted and moves in a haphazard, slapdash manner rather than using measured priorities to guide reform," Cox continued.  "It sends the wrong message to two industries that are persevering despite the Granholm administration's lack of leadership." 

Granholm issued Executive Order 45 of 2009 on October 8^th, eliminating the power of the current Commission of Agriculture and Natural Resources Commission to appoint the director of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources.  This action will increase the Governor's power while ending the commissions' control over policy that affects tourism and agriculture.

Cox called on the legislature to block the order before the constitutionally mandated window for disapproving it expires on December 7th.   Cox said he supports bi-partisan measures which would do so, such as: HCR 32, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Mayes; SCR 23, sponsored by Sen. Michelle McManus; and SCR 24, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Kuipers.

"The legislature should reject this executive order immediately in order to protect the Commissions, under which our agriculture and environmental economies have thrived," said Cox. 

Cox noted that Michigan's agriculture industry generates $71.3 billion a year, employs 86,000 people and is one of the few industries to actually grow in the last several years.  Meanwhile, Michigan's tourism industry, dependent on the continued good management of our one-of-a-kind natural resources, accounted for $18 billion and 193,000 jobs in Michigan's economy.  

Cox joins Michigan's leading voices in agriculture and the environment in opposing the executive order, including many legislators, the Michigan Farm Bureau, and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.

The current Michigan Commission on Agriculture, in place since 1921, is a bi-partisan commission made up of five members with varied backgrounds.   The Michigan Natural Resource Commission is a seven-member bi-partisan commission made up of varied backgrounds.  All appointments for both commissions are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate.   The chairman of the Michigan Commission on Agriculture, Jim Byrum, resigned from the Commission yesterday citing disagreements with Governor Granholm. 

"The Governor's executive order puts jobs at risk and silences the voices of our farmers, hunters, fisherman, and lovers of the great outdoors," Cox concluded.  "She should follow that simple yet accurate adage: If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

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