National parks are being wielded to build opposition to the congressional budget impasse that could lead to the first shutdown of the federal government since 1995-96.
In a release sent wide and far, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, raised the spectre of a shuttered Yosemite National Park in railing against Republicans he maintained are driving the government closer to a shutdown.
“This weekend, Yosemite might turn into ‘NOsemite’, as our national treasures would close their gates and send American families away,” said Rep. Markey. “House Republicans are telling the American families who would like to walk in one of our national parks this weekend to ‘take a hike.’ These forced closures could devastate the already fragile local economies of small communities which depend on national parks for tourism dollars.
“For House Republicans, the Tea Party is more important than the Tetons,” said Mr. Markey.
President Obama and Democrats have proposed significant and responsible budget cuts in an effort to meet House Republicans more than half way, the congressman's staff maintained.
Comments
So who was responsible to submit and pass a budget the last two years? The Dem. President, Senate and House. People are wising up to the Liberal BS that got us into this mess. Oh ya, it's Bush's fault. The Republicans want to starve kids and kill old people, Oh my!
The NPS and non essentials received checks because congress can vote and have them retroactively paid. There's not a snowballs chance in hell that would happen this time around. Anti-government/ anti public service is really en vogue these days.
The GOP is run by the tantrums of Mark Levin, as spoken by Rush Limbaugh, and as reported on the Drudge Report and Fox News. As such, the GOP is happy to close the government, as it is their enemy. Nevermind that they only control one half of one third of the government, they are determined to get their shutdown so nobody will call them RINOs. The GOP is focused on cutting government services, which may save 10s of billions, meanwhile the elephant in the room, entiutlement spending, is ignored. The citizens of this great country deserve better than both parties have on offer.
As a volunteer at a National Monument, I am less than happy I may be told Saturday morning my services are no longer needed. I am even more unhappy about what will happen to the park during any shutdown of services and the cost of restoring the damage which is likely to occur. Why can't our 536 children get it together?
I'm travelling from England next week to view some of the desert national parks in the southwest. If the parks were closed it would ruin all of my vacation plans and leave me with unease at ever visting the US again.
"I'm travelling from England next week to view some of the desert
national parks in the southwest. If the parks were closed it would ruin
all of my vacation plans and leave me with unease at ever visting the US
again."
Now imagine having a chance of this happening everytime you come to Cape Hatteras. Those who make plans early in the year are faced with this possibilty of no access every year for the past three years.
Welcome to the club and do not look for refunds.
The last time the government shut down was on our first trip to Hawaii. We managed to find trails in the back of the park (with the help from hiking locals) but most people just skipped the National Parks. What a shame!
The National Parks are one of the few essential services we can all agree on.
Danny
www.hikertohiker.com
"Gas prices, get used to it," says our President. How will that effect visitation and the need for volunteers and paid employees with the decline in the economy in every sector. It would appear his voter base wants it that way. They may get their way.