September 13, 2005

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today appointed Daniel Beattie Director of the state of Michigan’s Washington D.C. Office effective November 1.  Beattie’s appointment follows the announcement earlier today that John Burchett, director of the Washington Office, will replace Rick Wiener as the Governor’s chief of staff in Lansing.
 
“Dan Beattie has played a critical role in working with the congressional delegation and the federal government to ensure that Michigan’s interests are protected,” Granholm said.  “He will serve as an excellent steward for the administration and the state in the nation’s Capital.” 
 
Beattie is currently deputy director of the state’s Washington Office where he serves as a federal policy advisor to Granholm on transportation, energy, environment, natural resources, telecommunications, and agriculture issues.
 
Beattie recently represented the Governor in a coalition of transportation ‘donor’ states that successfully increased Michigan’s share of federal gasoline taxes coming home for Michigan road and transit projects.  He has also served as a principal staff member on efforts to improve Michigan’s international border crossings and improve federal participation in Great Lakes restoration efforts.
 
Prior to joining the state’s Washington Office, Beattie served from 2000-2003 as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative John Dingell, the Dean of U.S. House of Representatives from Dearborn, Michigan.  Prior to serving in that capacity, Dan worked for Congressman Dingell as legislative director, and supported Dingell in securing significant federal spending increases for southeast Michigan’s transportation, Great Lakes improvement, and wildlife conservation.
 
Mr. Beattie, 39, is a native of Michigan.  He has a B.A. from Indiana University (1988) and received his Masters degree with a concentration in social and public policy from Georgetown University in 1995.  He currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, and is married to Sherry Reilly.  They’re expecting their first child very soon.

Michigan’s Washington Office is responsible for maintaining state relations with the federal government and with other states.  A significant portion of Michigan’s state budget comes from the federal government and the office works to make sure those items such as Medicaid and transportation are properly funded and that the rules to operate the programs are amenable and effective for the state.