North Michigan News

State Rep. Cam Cavitt on Thursday criticized downstate Democrats for passing a budget he claims is filled with projects favoring key Democratic strongholds. The fiscal year 2025 budget was approved by the House late at night.

“Once again, Democrats strong-armed a budget through the state House that only prioritizes funding for the people in big cities who vote for them,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “Democrats don’t govern in a manner that supports the whole of Michigan; they only focus on the people who fall inside the borders of their own districts.”

The budget includes hundreds of millions in funding for special projects such as $17 million for zoos in Lansing and metro Detroit, $2 million for a boxing gym, $5 million for a movie theater, and more than $18 million for sports complexes and fieldhouses.

Cavitt noted that his budget requests included items like $7 million for repairs to the Orchard Park Bridge, which he says is in desperate need of repair, $2 million for a housing project at Alpena Community College, and $1.5 million for the Black River Jetty. All were rejected by Democratic leadership.

“We have a bridge that’s literally at risk of failing and college kids with no place to live, yet Democrats would rather use taxpayer dollars on zoos and boxing clubs than do anything to support the people of rural Michigan,” Cavitt said. “They pushed through more than $400 million in special pet projects, but critical infrastructure updates weren’t important enough to make the cut.”

The Licensing and Regulatory Affairs budget includes nearly $6 million for the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to implement new green energy laws introduced by Democrats. This funding would allow the MPSC to begin approving large-scale solar and wind projects despite local opposition.

“The public has been loud and clear in their vocal opposition to the Democrats’ radical green energy laws,” Cavitt said. “I’m not sure how using taxpayer dollars to pay for the implementation of these historically unpopular measures will increase public support.”

The Labor and Economic Opportunity budget includes $1 million for illegal immigrants to hire taxpayer-funded attorneys. Additionally, an undesignated amount of funding was approved to support the Office of Global Michigan, which has faced scrutiny over providing aid to illegal immigrants.