Another Bu$h Campaign Deception: National Parks

[Zorra]

It seems that every statement that the Bu$h campaign makes is designed to deceive the American public:

The Democrats want to spend $600 million over five years on park maintenance, staffing and programs. The spending would be paid for with increased fees on companies that buy mineral-rich government property or extract minerals from publicly owned lands.

Kerry's program for parks includes more stringent enforcement of clean air and water regulations, and a promise not to contract national park jobs to outside vendors.

The Bush campaign challenged Kerry's criticisms that the parks have been neglected during Bush's administration.

"President Bush has provided record funding levels for America's national parks. John Kerry's misleading attacks are one more reason why he has a growing credibility problem," said Bush-Cheney campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&e=1&u=/ap/20040809/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

But the real story is:

National Parks fast falling into disrepair
From aging facilities to overgrown trails, reaching the backcountry is getting harder.
By Brad Knickerbocker | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
snip---
The National Park Service is a mammoth organization. With some 20,000 professionals and 125,000 volunteers, it oversees 388 parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, lakeshores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. The number of park units has nearly doubled since 1970, and annual visits now total nearly 300 million. All of this costs some $2.3 billion a year.

But critics say (and administration officials acknowledge) that's not enough to keep the resources in good shape while meeting the recreational and educational expectations of visitors. According to the General Accounting Office, the backlog of deferred maintenance at national parks has grown to something between $4 billion and $6.8 billion.

Speaking at Everglades National Park the first summer of his presidency, President Bush pledged to "restore and renew America's national parks." Since then, however, the administration and Congress have budgeted $662 million in new funding for such improvements. That sounds like a lot, but spread over four budget cycles (2002-2005) it's inadequate to meet the need, say watchdog groups.

The private National Parks Conservation Association says $600 million in additional funds are needed every year to adequately chip away at the park maintenance backlog. Among the problems outlined in the association's recent report:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0525/p01s02-usgn.html

Dear Mr. Schmidt: It is not John Kerry that has a credibility problem. It is you, and the Bu$h administration, that clearly has a credibility problem.

Nice try, you lose again.

[cheezus]

1. A lesson from the international peace park

I was in Glacier National Park this summer; part of it is in Canada. The difference in quality of facilities, services, and upkeep between the US and Canada is amazing.

Look what happens when people are willing to pay their fair share in taxes.

[Zorra]

2. Yes. These "taxes" would come directly from corporate welfare cuts,

and not from the American taxpayer:

The Democrats want to spend $600 million over five years on park maintenance, staffing and programs. The spending would be paid for with increased fees on companies that buy mineral-rich government property or extract minerals from publicly owned lands.