Group: Bush Muzzling U.S. Park Officials

[maddezmom]

JACKSON, Wyo. - The Bush administration is muzzling national park superintendents by ordering them not to stray in public comments from a list of rosy stances on budget matters, an advocacy group says.



National Park Service officials acknowledge providing "talking points" to help guide employees but say that's standard practice and insist that no policy prevents superintendents from being candid.


Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a group based in Washington, D.C., contends park leaders are being forced to downplay negatives because President Bush (news - web sites) made election-year promises to take good care of the nation's parks.


"The Bush administration is trying to turn every national park into a local re-election campaign office," said Jeff Ruch, the group's executive director.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=718&e=10&u=/ap/20040523/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/park_service_media

First the medicare ads, now using the Park Service as a campaign office. :(