You are here

Op-Ed: Let's Compromise To Support The National Parks

Share

Rob Smith, NPCA's Pacific Northwest Region director.

There is a place to start coming together on the federal budget, and Sen. Patty Murray is well-suited to lead the way as chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee and a leader in the current, difficult budget negotiations. Shutting down the government — and our national parks — is simply not a reasonable choice.

In addition to disrupting long-planned vacations, relocating weddings, and spoiling other events, communities surrounding Olympic National Park lost nearly $4 million in visitor spending during the shutdown. Businesses surrounding Mount Rainier lost up to $1 million. But the shutdown was part of a long-term trend of broken budgeting harming national parks and threatening the visitor experience and the economic health of surrounding communities.

Our national parks offer an instructive lesson about why budget brinksmanship and the indiscriminate across-the-board sequester cuts demand a new approach. Sen. Murray is choosing the right fight in seeking a compromise that will end this damaging policy.

While the entrances to our national parks have been reopened, there are still “closed” signs on some campgrounds, visitor centers and historic structures and nearly 2,000 fewer rangers to help visitors due to sequestration. The ever-shrinking budget — down 13 percent since 2010 just to operate our national parks — is shortsighted and unsustainable.

Studies show that our national parks generate a $10 return for every $1 invested. National parks in Washington state alone support more than 3,800 jobs and produce upwards of $260 million in economic activity, according to 2011 reports.

It’s time to reinvest in our heritage. Nine in 10 voters — Republican, Democrat and Independent — do not want national park funding cut. Sen. Murray has reflected this bipartisan support with a budget that allows room for investing in national parks, which enjoy broad support, are economically important and are being harmed by the sequester.

Time will tell if the budget conferees also take this common ground into consideration and find the compromise necessary to end the damaging sequester.

Rob Smith is the Northwest regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association. This essay first appeared in The Olympian.

Comments

I'm amazed - amazed, mind you - that someone who got his ass so handed to him as Romney might find it in his soul to express a little bitterness against the man who trounced him.


the man who trounced him.

More of your fantasy world

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2012/11/how_clos...

But Lee is in the same fantasy world as the interview shows just the opposite of what Lee suggests.


One of my duties for many years in the NPS as a Protection Division Ranger was rescue and emergency services. In a park like Yosemite, you get your share of accident victims, drownings, falls, well the list gets quite lengthly. You train with other EMS personnel at medical facilities etc, frequently. There is an excellent book by Butch Farabee ( a first class park ranger , then superintendent), titled "Death in Yosemite". Do not let the title scare you, there is much history of the park, it is well reserached and well written. In any case Rick B, I want to thank you for your comment again. I have thought about it all day, your service for 30 years helping the injured, sick, distressed, well my hat is off to you. And your experience doing so mirrors mine, but mine was to much lesser extent. Your comment simply hits the nail on the head. Thank you.


Thanks, Mackie. I'm in awe of the folks here who have put in their all in the parks. I could listen to 'hey ranger' stories all day.


But, ec, you said, "And, you might note, that after experiencing it in Mass, Romney recognized how bad the idea was."

I was pointing out that in the MTP interview, Romney defended the Massachusetts program while at the same time dodging, flipping, flopping, slithering and sliding trying to avoid answering some very direct questions from David Gregory. It was a pathetic attempt to continue spouting the party line while defending himself from any criticism.

You really need to actually watch and listen to the entire interview rather than clipping comments from biased blogs or TV "news" that may have edited the interview to make it say something different than what really happened. Remember that it is important to go the original sources.


It is heartening to me that both sides value the National Parks as much as they do but sad that value is not enough to put politics aside and not use them as a bargaining chip. I'd love to see party affiliations vanish once in office and hold the entire body responsible for their actions or inactions as they may be. Far too much time is spent trying to damage the other side (from both parties). I can't help but compare the disagreements in Washington to the dialogue here between ecbuck and LeeDalton two of the more pasionate posters here. Perhaps when they can agree on something Washington will too :).


Politics have poisoned the NPS more so than ever. I seen my favorite park negatively and drastically change because of powerful organizations with deep pockets and dedicated political lobbyists. Visitors have no chance against the NPS and it's cozy politically connected organizations like Audubon.

The ACA is an example of government program, with best of intentions, that had very little thought to costs, realities affecting the people, and a mostly politically driven agenda. Even though the evidence shows that it will and is causing more harm than good, because of politics they will continue to ram it through. I can name a half dozen of NPS programs that mimic the exact same failures. I think that's why many are drawing comparisons with and the mismanagement of the DOI/NPS.


Romney defended the Massachusetts program

Going back and reading the thread, I see we may have been discussing different things. I was under the impression that you were claiming Romney supported Obamacare as that was what I was referring to when I said he "recognized how bad an idea its was.

He did institute Romneycare (which I believe was a major mistake and one reason he didn't get the full support from the right) but that is a very differenct program than Obamacare.


The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.