January 2011: Governor Snyder's First Year
Once again, we find ourselves at the dawn of a New Year. For many of us, this means the proclamation of well-intentioned (and ill-fated) resolutions: work out more, eat less, find time to read again, spend more time with family.
For those of us in the environmental community, it also means reflecting on the impact of Governor Snyder’s administration after his first year in office. From his damaging cuts to the DNR and DEQ budgets to his veto of the “No Stricter Than Federal” legislation, Gov. Snyder’s term has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
A little over a week ago, I was a guest on Michigan Radio’s Environment Report with Zoe Clark regarding Gov. Snyder’s environmental report card. The interview touched on positive and negative actions taken by the administration, and highlighted the importance of holding our elected officials accountable.
This month on the First Friday Focus on the Environment, David Fair and I have the pleasure and privilege of interviewing Bill Rustem, Gov. Snyder’s Director of Strategy. As a former environmental advisor to Michigan’s conservation champion William Milliken, Rustem has a long history in the conservation and environmental arena with considerable influence in the Snyder administration. With a unique perspective from inside the Governor’s inner circle, Rustem sheds light on the reasoning behind the Governor’s decisions during his first year in office.
Join us this Friday, January 6 on 89.1 WEMU at 7:40 AM as we touch on issues ranging from clean, renewable energy to threats against the Natural Resources Trust Fund (a personal legacy of Rustem’s), as well as how the Snyder administration plans to tackle a myriad of challenges in the year 2012.