Leader returns to environment advisory group meeting after GOP leaders to have her fired

The advisory group for funding of environmental projects with lottery proceeds will meet this morning for the first time since legislators tried to fire the group's executive director.

House leadership fired Susan Thornton as director of the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources just before Christmas, and then notified her a few days later that the firing was "suspended."

Citizen members of the group said they were not informed about the actions or the reasons behind them, and they say under the law establishing the group the commission itself, not legislators, has the power to hire and fire staff.

The LCCMR recommends natural resources projects; the legislature makes the final decisions. Last year, funding was committed for two years. Now, some legislators want to redirect some money to other projects, especially invasive species control.

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