Cam Cavitt

ALPENA — State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, has called out the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for wanting to charge users of state parks, lakes, rivers, and forests more.

One Thursday, Cavitt, who represents Northeast Michigan, voted against House Bill 5428, which would require people renewing their license plate registration to each opt out of paying $14 for the state’s Recreation Passport, which grants access to state parks.

The bill passed the state House on Thursday and moved on to the state Senate.

Currently, the Michigan Secretary of State allows people to opt in to receive a passport tag.

Cavitt said Friday afternoon he is also prepared to vote no on a bill that would significantly increase the cost of hunting and fishing licenses.

The state House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee voted Thursday to advance House Bill 6229 to the state House floor, where a vote could take place at any time during the current legislative lame duck session.

The increases of at least 50% to current license fees would hike the cost of obtaining any hunting and fishing license. Deer licenses would climb from $20 to $30, while fishing licenses would jump from $25 to $38.

Cavitt called the proposed hikes unfair to people who utilize Michigan’s natural resources and already struggle to make ends meet.

“People are having a difficult time paying their bills, and all this would do is add another expense for them, one that allows them to enjoy our natural resources,” he said.

If the proposed Recreation Passport law passes, Cavitt said, many people likely won’t check the box to opt out and will be shocked when they see they purchased the passport without requesting it. He said the entire idea of making people pay for something they don’t want or may not use is not ideal.

“It’s deceptive,” he said.

On Friday afternoon, meanwhile, the state House floor saw some fireworks as Cavitt and the rest of the state House Republicans walked out of the legislative session after Democrats failed to advance a bill that would alter the pending elimination of tipped wages in Michigan.

Many business owners say eliminating tipped wages could severely impact them.

Cavitt told The News Friday the state House Republicans, who are in the minority until after the start of new year, will stay in Lansing in case the Democrats have a change of heart and move the tipped wage bill to a vote.

Until then, Cavitt said, he anticipates the Democratic majority will try to push through legislation that many people won’t be in favor of.

“If they want to allow illegal immigrants driver’s licenses, they can own it,” he said. “If they want to pass a law that could ban guns, they can own that, too. It is getting crazy, and a lot of these bills are for things that nobody wants.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.