State Rep. Beth Griffin today called on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to revise a previous plan and issue another executive order reorganizing the Michigan Department of

Environmental Quality in an effort to expand environmental protections, increase access to safe and clean drinking water, and improve the health and safety of Michigan’s citizens.

Griffin, of Mattawan, said the Legislature recently rejected an executive order reorganizing the department because a portion of the order overstepped the fundamental division of powers between the governor’s office and Legislature.

“The new governor’s decision to eliminate three legislatively established commissions was an overreach of executive authority. The Legislature had a duty to act in its constitutional role as a check on the executive branch,” Griffin said. “I believe that same executive order also included many good ideas for Michigan, but because the Legislature does not have the power to edit individual lines of an executive order it had to be rejected in its entirety.”

The review commissions the governor’s executive order would have abolished were put into law last year to give citizens a much-needed voice in the rule-making process, increasing the transparency and accountability of the DEQ. Prior to the creation of review commissions, citizens and small businesses had no recourse to appeal new rules made by the DEQ and were stuck with the consequences, unless they decided to pursue costly and time-consuming appeals through the courts.

Griffin’s resolution calls on the governor to submit a new and revised executive order that does not include the elimination of these committees.

“I’m committed to safeguarding the health and safety of Michigan families by protecting the environment and improving access to safe, clean drinking water,” Griffin said. “I’m asking the Governor to resubmit the Executive Order without elimination of the review commissions that were established by law. I’m confident we will find a lot of common ground if we work together on responsible reforms to protect and improve our water resources for all Michigan families.”

House Resolution 26 has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee for consideration.

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