Senate Leader Takes Closer Look At Planned Merger

DENVER (AP) - Colorado Senate President Brandon Shaffer is asking sponsors of a bill that would merge the state wildlife and parks agencies to delay a vote so he can take another look at it.

The Durango Herald reports some lawmakers are concerned the bill is moving quickly and they have questions.

A Senate committee has voted unanimously to send the measure to the full Senate. Gov. John Hickenlooper proposed merging the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks to save $3 million to $4 million a year.

The two agencies were combined 40 years ago and the Legislature separated them in 1972. An audit then found lands bought with federal wildlife funds were improperly assigned to the parks division.

The merger's proponents say the state can learn from past mistakes.

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