State Rep. Cam Cavitt on Friday addressed the $59 billion state budget for next year. The budget included very few priorities pushed for by local Republicans and instead included tons of partisan pet projects pushed by Lansing Democrats. Cavitt noted that one of the few highlights was $550,000 for Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger (MSAH).

Democrats used the budget to gift the Michigan Public Service Commission $5.8 million and 31 new full-time positions to implement their new green energy mandates. The budget also includes $156.2 million for a solar installation program and $68 million for a solar factory.

“I’m glad to see Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger got the funding they desperately needed. I’m disappointed that Democrats couldn’t see the necessity behind the other funding I advocated for in Northeast Michigan,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “Even with the smallest silver lining, the budget was still crammed full of terrible spending priorities. I could never support such a blatantly partisan liberal budget.”

The MSAH funding will allow the organization to purchase refrigerated trailers that store deer and processed venison. The funding was one of Cavitt’s key priorities during the budget process. MSAH coordinates the efforts of Michigan hunters and licensed Michigan-based wild game processors to feed people in need. MSAH is entirely volunteer-run and coordinates with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. MSAH has donated 1.1 million pounds of processed venison and helped feed an estimated 4.6 million people.

“There are too many deer in Michigan. Anytime we deal with overpopulation, there are too many deer and not enough freezer space,” Cavitt said. “With this funding, MSAH will be to able help deal with the excess amount of deer by turning them around and getting the venison to the people who need it most.”

The budget also includes hundreds of millions in funding for other politically motivated special projects. These projects include $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 baseball stadiums. Cavitt noted that of the 200 enhancement grants, only 12 recipients could be considered up north. Of the critical infrastructure grants, only two recipients are north of Grand Rapids.

“I’d really like for the governor to come up to Alpena or Cheboygan and explain how zoos and boxing gyms are more important than a crumbling bridge that school busses rely on,” Cavitt said. “Democrats prioritized their green energy mandates over critically needed infrastructure. We cannot continue down this path. The state cannot afford for its leaders to waste money on these radical spending policies.”

During the budget process, Cavitt advocated for key infrastructure investments in Northern Michigan. These funding requests included $7 million for the Orchard St. Bridge in Cheboygan, $2 million for an Alpena Community College housing project, $2 million for the Black River Jetty, $100,000 for the Cheboygan County Veterans Affairs office, and $100,000 for the Alpena County Veterans Affairs office.

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