By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-911381.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Governor Granholm has sent more than two dozen appointments to the state Senate. Some of the people were rejected at least once in earlier confirmation fights. As Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta reports, Senate GOP leaders think most of the appointments will be rejected again.
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Republicans say they don't have a problem with most of the appointees. Some are Republicans. But GOP leaders say the Senate will continue to reject appointments to positions with terms that begin late this year or early next year. They say the next governor should fill them.
Liz Boyd is Governor Granholm's press secretary. She says this governor's appointment power continues until the minute the next governor is sworn in.
"The governor is the governor. She has the authority and the duty to fill vacancies, and she is going to continue exercising her duty until the end of the year," she says.
Boyd and Democrats say that will help ensure an orderly transition and that critical positions don't stand empty while a new administration is established.
The Senate will have the chance to fight anew about the appointments when the Legislature returns from its summer break.