Marostica to OED-IT?

Huh!?

Loveland lawmaker Don Marostica, a developer who has bucked his fellow Republicans on issues he believes are crucial to Colorado's financial health, will be named the state's new chief economic-development director.

The announcement will be made this afternoon, three sources told The Denver Post.

Marostica will succeed Don Elliman, who now is Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter's chief operating officer.

Good god is this a dumb strategic move by the governor. Marostica is not just one of the few sane GOP voices in the legislature. He also sits on the very powerful Joing Budget Committee. removing a sane Republican from such a critical committee right before an election year is insane. Republicans can now place a far-rght firebrand on the committee and sit back and enjoy the show as Marostica's succesor enjoys the bullypulpit that comes from being a member of the JBC.

I'm at a loss for words to describe how bad of a move this is by the governor.