The Green[e]house Effect: a Weblog

And This Week’s Fleischer Award Goes to …

… Brian Kennedy, a House Resources Committee spokesman, who told the Washington Post:

“Realistically, Congress will never have enough money to take care of every issue in every state … These agencies have to get a little more — I should say a lot more — efficient in how they spend their money.”

He criticized the National Park Service for acquiring new properties without the ability to care adequately for what it already owns.

“It just seems to be common sense: You need to take care of what you have before you go out and get more,” he said.

Fine sentiment, that. Most people want a government that spends money smartly. But who buys parkland — the National Park Service? Ummm, no:

Congress decides if an area should be added to the National Park System or if some other action might be appropriate. Congressional committees usually hold hearings on proposed additions to the System and ask the Secretary of the Interior for recommendations. Studies by the National Park Service provide information to help the Secretary develop a position and to help Congress decide what action to take. Study reports prepared by the National Park Service, however, present information about the resources and what management alternatives are most efficient or effective. Recommendations are usually provided in the letter transmitting the study to Congress. Legislation authorizing a new area will explain the purpose of the area and outline any specific directions for additional planning, land acquisition, management, and operations.

So while the Shenandoah National Park goes wanting for maintenance, Kennedy blames park managers, telling them to stop buying land — never mind that lawmakers are the ones who write the checks.

Nicely done. If only he put as much creativity into protecting national parks.

Posted by Greg Greene at June 8, 2003 04:10 PM | TrackBack