With all the mergers and consolidations of state agencies being debated at the state Capitol, the latest idea being floated is merging the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security into the public safety department with the state police.

Some legislators like the idea. Some don't.

Stay tuned. The earliest vote would be Wednesday when the House and Senate vote on the latest deficit-mitigation plan.

Some of these consolidations come very quickly. Just ask Rob Simmons, the state's business advocate who saw a quick move to consolidate his office into another business agency during a special session just before Thanksgiving. Simmons, a Republican who served for six years in the U.S. Congress, then left the state government and is now considering challenging U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd in the 2010 race.

A Democratic insider on Monday said many first-responders have concerns about the potential merger, and the idea might be taken off the table.

After becoming aware of this issue, CEMA President  Michael Spera called our members to action on Monday February 23rd @ 11:48am.  True to form, CEMA members responded by contacting their State Representatives and Senators.  Later that same afternoon, the following was reported.