State Rep. Ken Borton today celebrated the passage of the state budget, which included new controls on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Borton, who has long championed meaningful reform within the DNR, ensured the final version of the budget included no hunting or fishing license fee increases, crucial funding for ice storm relief efforts, and cut significant waste from the department.

“We took significant steps to ensure the Department of Natural Resources would not have the resources or authority to continue their unchecked power grab throughout Michigan,” said Borton, R-Gaylord. “Our budget agreement ensures the DNR will not continue its legal warfare against honest hog farmers, no solar or wind projects will be forced on state land, and no residents will be charged or fined for simply feeding the birds near their homes.”

Borton successfully fought off an attempt by Senate Democrats and the DNR to hike hunting and fishing license fees and force every driver across Michigan to pay for a recreation passport on their vehicles.

“The DNR already has plenty of resources; if they believe they need additional funding, they should look within instead of pursuing fee hikes that will drive more people away from the outdoors,” Borton said. “People who enjoy state parks should be able to choose to have a recreation passport on their vehicles. But it should absolutely be a choice. Forcing every driver to pay for one of these passports would be like state-mandated gym memberships, even if you don’t live within 50 miles of a gym.”

Among the other wins, the DNR budget cuts 30 ghost employees – positions requested by the department that were never filled, so the funding could be secretly funneled elsewhere. The budget agreement also requires the DNR to refer to the land it manages as state-owned or public, preventing the DNR from claiming ownership over land purchased with taxpayer dollars.

The budget agreement also secures $14 million for ice storm relief efforts in Northern Michigan. The funding comes after a spring ice storm devastated Northern Michigan communities with hurricane-level winds, widespread power outages, and a massive financial burden after recovery efforts. The $14 million is the first step toward providing the communities with the resources they need to be made whole and finish relief efforts.

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