State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, issued the following statement on the passage of House Bills 4001 and 4002, the first two bills of the legislative term, which will restore the tip credit and protect small businesses from intrusive paid sick time mandates. The bills passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“Promises made are promises kept. When we took a stand just over a month ago now, we vowed that House Republicans would not take another vote until legislation to restore the tip credit and protect our small businesses was up for consideration. That’s exactly what we did.

“I’ll never forget how frustrated I was last year when former Democrat leadership slammed the House chamber doors in the faces of nearly a thousand tipped workers because they couldn’t bear to look them in the eye. These advocates weren’t asking for the moon. They just wanted us to save their jobs, their restaurants, and their livelihoods.

“I hope all the small business and restaurant owners, tipped workers, and everyone affected by these dangerous changes hears our message loud and clear: Republicans in the state House are fighting for you. From Cheboygan to Cassopolis, my colleagues and I aren’t going to stop until we know our restaurants and small businesses will be able to keep the lights on come March.

“The bipartisan support we received today should send a similar clear sign to Democrat leadership in the Senate: don’t play political games with people’s lives.

“We don’t have to go down to the buzzer on this one. Let’s get to work and save our small businesses and tipped workers without putting them through the heartache of having to watch the clock for the next four weeks.”

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