North Michigan News

State Representative Cam Cavitt of Cheboygan has voiced his opposition to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's proposed roads plan, which includes significant tax increases. In a statement released on Wednesday, Cavitt criticized the governor for taking six years to develop her plan and questioned the necessity of raising taxes.

Cavitt stated, "It sounds like the governor only has concepts of a plan if she’s just now starting to ‘think Michigan.’ To her credit, the governor did recently announce her roads plan, but she’s yet to explain why it took her six years to ‘think’ of and why she wants to raise taxes to get it done. We don’t need new fees on tow truck operators and kids working themselves through college with a delivery job – we don’t have to raise taxes at all."

He further commented on what he perceives as the governor's misplaced priorities: "It’s clear what’s been on the governor’s mind in the meantime. She’s thinking about Chinese businesses, green energy activists, and her future presidential campaign. She should’ve been thinking Michigan for the past six years – maybe our roads would be in a lot better shape if she had."

Cavitt highlighted an alternative approach from House Republicans that aims to allocate $3.1 billion annually for road improvements without increasing taxes. This proposal focuses on redirecting funds from corporate welfare programs towards infrastructure projects and ensuring that all fuel taxes are used directly for road funding. According to Cavitt, this change could provide an additional $945 million each year for local road improvements.