A Michigan Senate committee has voted to reject Gov. Jennifer Granholm's order letting her appoint two department directors now named by commissions.

The Republican-controlled Senate Appropriations Committee also voted Tuesday to reject the Democratic governor's plan to combine the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality.

The panel instead voted along party lines to make the Department of Environmental Quality an agency under the Department of Natural Resources.

Granholm's Oct. 8 executive order takes effect unless rejected by both legislative chambers within 60 days. The House is controlled by Democrats.

The agriculture community says the order is bad public policy and would provide no real cost savings.