State Rep. Cam Cavitt today slammed Senate Democrats for dodging budget negotiations and driving Michigan toward its third-ever state shutdown. If a bipartisan budget deal is not reached by Oct. 1, the state will shut down, putting critical services at risk. Things like state parks, law enforcement, public services, and even schools could dramatically reduce services or even shut down entirely.

“Senate Democrats are playing some sort of twisted game of chicken where they wait to negotiate until the very last minute,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “It’s sick. This isn’t a game. If we don’t get a bipartisan budget done by Oct. 1, critical services will shut down. Senate Democrats are going to close our schools just like they did during the COVID lockdowns.”

Both the House and Senate have passed budget proposals for next year. However, the Senate budget, which does not include a real roads plan, requires $5 billion in tax increases. The House plan includes record funding for schools, a $3.4 billion roads plan, and historic investments in public safety – all without raising taxes a penny.

“House Republicans have a commonsense plan that doesn’t raise taxes. All we’re asking is that the Senate come to the table with their own commonsense plan that doesn’t raise taxes,” Cavitt said. “Senate Democrats are going to shut our state down because they care more about raising taxes than they do our schoolchildren and first responders.”

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