Norton: Park Service Funding Highest Ever

[Khephra]

Norton: Park Service Funding Highest Ever

By Mary Fitzgerald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 9, 2004; Page A10


Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton defended yesterday her department's handling of National Park Service funding, releasing a report showing that unprecedented levels of funding have been allocated to the agency this year.

Tensions have been mounting between Interior and such groups as the National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition of Concerned National Park Service Retirees over the issue of financing the parks system. The two groups contend that a growing number of parks have been forced to deal with chronic annual budget shortfalls.

Earlier this year, a report by the National Parks Conservation Association estimated that the national parks are receiving two-thirds of the funding they require, leading to understaffing and the deterioration of facilities.

The latest Interior report says that this year's Park Service operations budget of $1.8 billion represents a 20 percent increase since the Bush administration took office. It says more than 4,000 improvement projects are planned or underway to reduce the park maintenance backlog.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37574-2004Jul8.html

[trotsky]

1. Why do I get the sneaking suspicion

that the increase in funding is to build roads for logging & mining?

[SoCalDem]

2. and for funding "studies" that are done by their cohorts

:eyes:

[Joanne98]

3. That's because she diverted funds to the

FUCKING MERCENARIES. We need a complete investigation. Gale Norton is 100% criminal. Boy would I like to see this witch in handcuffs.

[bluedog]

4. Shes a LIAR ( ex FL)

Pinellas County Park boat ramps are now bring charged $5.00 everytime one parks the trailer.....this fee is because of the operational costs...the park budget here has been cut.....now we have to pay for everything for christs sakes............another jeb and george scam...........

[treepig]

5. if true, why has bush not kept his promise

To Remove Toxic Petroleum From National Parks ?

WASHINGTON, DC--Vowing to "restore the pristine splendor of America's natural treasures," President Bush Monday unveiled "Project: National Parks Clean-Up," an ambitious program to remove all toxic petrochemical deposits from national parks by 2004.

"Places like Yellowstone and Yosemite were once pure, unspoiled wilderness," Bush said at a White House press conference. "But over the course of the past 10 million years, we have allowed them to become polluted with toxic fossil-fuel deposits, turning a blind eye to the steady build-up of vast quantities of dangerous pollutants. It's time to end this terrible neglect."

more . .


http://www.mrcranky.com/movies/finalfantasy/92.html

[LittleApple81]

6. They had the parks liar du jour a few weeks ago on C-Span. HOMELAND

SECURITY funds to protect the parks are a big chunk of the money.

And she did not break it down as to where the rest of the money was going either.

[thecrow]

7. WTF???? n/t

[xxqqqzme]

8. caught the last 2 minutes

of some PBS show, I'm guessing on national parks cuz suddenly there was her chiseled mug (she & KHarris could B sisters)saying how ALL the national parks were treasures worth protecting so all Americans could enjoy them. Just that little blip and I was yelling 'LIAR'.