DNR Director, governor recently left for a taxpayer-funded trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland

State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, on Monday released the following statement regarding senior officials, including the governor, within the Whitmer administration embarking on a taxpayer-funded trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Scott Bowen, and other department heads left for the week-long trip on Sunday.

“It’s trips like these that prove exactly why the public doesn’t trust the DNR or its leadership. They’re out in our communities talking about how strapped for cash they are one week and boarding a plane for a week-long vacation in the UK and Ireland the next.

“This two-faced approach to governing has to stop. I’m willing to have a good-faith debate about DNR funding and the way the department uses those funds. But that conversation isn’t going to start until lawmakers get absolute certainty that the DNR director’s vacation budget has been zeroed out.

“The director has been on the frontlines pushing fee increases. If the situation is so bad, I’d hope he’d publicly confirm that he won’t charge the taxpayers for the vacation he’s taking overseas. Director Bowen should be focused on getting more people to stamp their deer tags, not stamping his own passport.

“The DNR director has basically said his ship is sinking. Well Director Bowen, a captain is supposed to go down with his ship, not abandon his crew by catching the first flight out of Dodge.”

Governor Whitmer and Director Bowen have recently championed significant fee increases for hunting, fishing, and boating licenses. The proposals have been widely criticized by Republicans, who say the fee hikes will drive people from outdoor recreational activities – leading to less revenue for the DNR and fewer hunters assisting with population management of Michigan wildlife.

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