House Oversight Committee authorizes subpoenas to DNR, DHHS director and Attorney General over multiple probes

The Michigan House Oversight Committee on Tuesday authorized a series of subpoenas asking state agencies and officials for documents and testimony tied to several ongoing investigations.

The committee voted to issue document subpoenas to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources related to the agency's 2010 invasive species order on feral swine and to its pilot program for euthanizing overabundant Canadian geese. Representative Regas, who moved both motions, said the materials sought — including policy memos, scientific studies, stakeholder consultations and financial records — are relevant to possible changes in hunting and public‑health laws and to the department's annual budget.

The DNR told Regas' office the department would need 150 business days to produce the DNR records, an interval Regas criticized as an attempt "to run out the clock on this legislative session." The committee approved the feral swine subpoena on a roll call that produced 15 yeas and no nays. It approved the subpoena tied to the Canadian goose pilot on a roll call that recorded 16 ayes and one pass.

Representative Wolford moved a subpoena that would require Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Department of Health and Human Services, to appear and testify before the…