Obama admin. may let states fund national parks during shutdown
Washington (CNN) - Some national parks may reopen if the states in which they're located decide to put up the cash.
The Department of Interior announced Thursday it will consider working with governors who have offered to use state funds to open the parks.
"The Interior Department will begin conversations about how to proceed as expeditiously as current limited resources allow," Interior spokesman Blake Androff said in a statement.
As a result of the government shut down, all 401 national parks have been closed and 20,000 National Park Service employees have been furloughed.
States are feeling the pain, given that national parks serve as major tourist hubs that drive local economies.
Governors and local officials in several states–including Utah, Arizona, California, South Dakota, and Wyoming–have sought alternative solutions to keep their parks open without federal funding.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer sent President Barack Obama a letter last week requesting that Washington make it possible for states to use their own funds or private contributions to reopen national parks. Her letter stated that in 2011, visitors to the Grand Canyon generated more than $467 million in revenue and supported nearly 7,400 jobs.
"We cannot afford to turn away this kind of revenue," Brewer wrote in the letter. "To do so will unnecessarily devastate the employment of thousands of Arizonans who depend on the Grand Canyon."
The state's two Republican senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, issued a statement earlier Thursday, saying people who defy the law and visit the Grand Canyon are currently "being issued citations and ordered to appear before a federal court."
The Republican-led House has passed a series of bills to refund parts of the government, including the national parks. But the Democratic-controlled Senate demands the government be funded all at once.
The House Natural Resources Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a joint hearing next week, questioning the necessity of closing national parks and monuments during the shutdown.
- CNN's Martina Stewart contributed to this report.
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PPACA is a law. Do not touch it. Stay out of it. We registered on line too. Obama, stick to your guns. GOP idiots want you to defund–nothing doing.
I guess the American people were finally heard, for once. This president only responds when his approval ratings decrease. His ethics are severely lacking – and he has no respect for the American military and their families. More decisions that citizens live by should be voted on state by state. Not mandated by the federal government, or a dictatorial president.
Like the States have the money we are a Country where our Democrats have failed us yet again with all their overspending including Obamacare 1.8 trillion for what higher taxes and continued overspending.
Remember the Senate has to approve the spending and they continue to think about their next election and how to divide this Country even more.
Why not keep them closed and allow illegal aliens to protest there, too. Obama kicked out veterans from visiting memorials. Obama kicked US citizens from the National Mall. Obama allowed illegal immigrants to protest at the National Mall, do why not national parks, too. And guess what? US taxpayers still have to pay for the clean-up!
I think the Feds should close ALL Federal land to hunting until the shutdown ends. National Forests, BLM land, wildlife management areas. No camping, no access.
That will get the phones ringing in the TeaBag Congressmen's offices.
@Richard Long
Why not keep them closed and allow illegal aliens to protest there, too. Obama kicked out veterans from visiting memorials. Obama kicked US citizens from the National Mall. Obama allowed illegal immigrants to protest at the National Mall, do why not national parks, too. And guess what? US taxpayers still have to pay for the clean-up!
Your post doesn't even make sense. If you are going to take the time to write something, at least be factual.
Obama was right! This is the most transparent administration ever. So obvious to anyone who is not bitterly partisan the tactics they are taking. "Due to the govt shutdown..." signs. Classic. I'm surprised he didn't have them put on there something along the lines of "Due to the republican led govt shutdown" In these situations, there is nobody more transparent. Pathetic.
@freedom
I guess the American people were finally heard, for once. This president only responds when his approval ratings decrease. His ethics are severely lacking – and he has no respect for the American military and their families. More decisions that citizens live by should be voted on state by state. Not mandated by the federal government, or a dictatorial president.
Dear "freedom-just sayin-just askin"
You are hilarious! Even though intelligent people call you out on every ridiculous thing you post, you keep on posting. Keep up the good work!
@ED1 " Democrats have failed us yet again with all their overspending"
Back on Earth, federal spending has always continually risen since the 30s no matter who was president or who controlled Congress.. It rose way more when Bush was in office by the way.
Are there unicorns in your imaginary world too? It must be pretty there.
Perhaps the trio of conservative geniuses posting here would care to Google "House rule change September 30". You might then be informed on who shut down the government in the first place, and how they did it.
Hint: Obama had nothing to do with it.
-Donna
And this is one of the glaring reasons why Detriot is where it is today. And yet they continue to elect Democrats over and over and then wonder why things are only getting worse. I guess because there is always somebody or something else to blame and distract the clueless voters.
Sound familiar America???
***********************************
yes, it remind ole Gunderson of many things, like how you and just sayin kept everyone on trailer park awake last night with yelling over welfare check, freedom no likee when he can't hear wwe on cabel
Hey Dick Short.
Where do you get your info? Since when has President Obama did anything you said he did? You people have no idea how stupid you really sound. But it's good because educated people know the truth. Not Fox talking points.
from the article:
"Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer sent President Barack Obama a letter last week requesting that Washington make it possible for states to use their own funds .... .... "
----------
Actually, she should have sent a letter to the Tea Party asking that they stop playing the junior high school games.
-freedom
I guess the American people were finally heard, for once. This president only responds when his approval ratings decrease. His ethics are severely lacking – and he has no respect for the American military and their families. More decisions that citizens live by should be voted on state by state. Not mandated by the federal government, or a dictatorial president.
************
Oooh yes folks, another vote for secession! Ready to fire on Fort Sumter yet?
@Richard Long
Exactly! And speaking of that – this is why we're fighting Obamacare. I can barely pay healthcare costs for my own family, let alone being mandated to pay for illegal individuals' health insurance. I already pay for public hospitals from my taxes for the illegal or uninsured. That is enough. I protest having to pay toward these health insurance programs. That's why they were allowed into the mall. This president places more value on illegals than the legal citizens and veterans of this country. His grand agenda of "fundamentally transforming" this country. That is the awful truth.
"I guess the American people were finally heard, for once. This president only responds when his approval ratings decrease. His ethics are severely lacking – and he has no respect for the American military and their families. More decisions that citizens live by should be voted on state by state. Not mandated by the federal government, or a dictatorial president."
The federal gov't owns those parks, not the states. Do you even listen to yourself before you speak? Given the level of ignorance and misinformation you consistently and constantly display, I'm guessing you don't. as for the military, POTUS can do nothing unless and until Congress authorizes the funding. It has nothing to do with Obama "trying to make it hurt as much as possible" or "choosing to hurt X or Y." Every single agency that has experienced negative effects (and that's pretty much all of them) sent letters and memos and put it on their websites and told Congress precisely what would happen, what wouldn't get funded, how their hands would be tied, etc., if Congress failed to fund them and pulled this shutdown stunt. Boom: it happens the way they warned and now the GOP/Teatrolls want to pretend they are shocked? Absurd. Stop pushing lies.
I'm still waiting for them to fund "Meals on Wheels" for the seniors. How long is it going to take for them to finally figure out that Medicaid dollars will not not going to nursing homes? How many times are they going to say, "Oh, my," and scramble to get something else funded. Is anyone manning the bioreactors at the CDC that should be making this season's flu virus vaccines?
"Remember the Senate has to approve the spending and they continue to think about their next election and how to divide this Country even more."
The Senate voted on the House bill and returned it to the House to be voted on after amending it. It is a bill that would fund the entire gov't at the spending levels the GOP/Teatrolls demanded. And yet, the GOP/Teatrolls in the House now refuse to allow it to be voted on because they know it will pass. Pretending that the Senate is somehow holding things up here is nothing more and nothing less than lying.
"I'm still waiting for them to fund "Meals on Wheels" for the seniors. How long is it going to take for them to finally figure out that Medicaid dollars will not not going to nursing homes? "
I'm sorry, but starving the elderly is part of the GOP/Teatrolls' plan for reducing Medicaid/Medicare costs.
-freedom
@Richard Long
Exactly! And speaking of that – this is why we're fighting Obamacare. I can barely pay healthcare costs for my own family, let alone being mandated to pay for illegal individuals' health insurance. I already pay for public hospitals from my taxes for the illegal or uninsured. That is enough. I protest having to pay toward these health insurance programs. That's why they were allowed into the mall. This president places more value on illegals than the legal citizens and veterans of this country. His grand agenda of "fundamentally transforming" this country. That is the awful truth.
**************
You say you can barely pay the costs of your health insurance, yet you always seem to find time to post your propaganda on here. That means one of two things: either you are a liar, or you are lazy and posting when you should be working. Besides, your statements fly in the face of facts yet again. Trust me, you'll find all the freedom you want to complain on the unemployment line.
""Due to the govt shutdown..." signs. Classic."
Your tears are delicious. More please.
@freedom"Exactly! And speaking of that – this is why we're fighting Obamacare. "
Fight away. I support Obamacare but this is America and you should speak your mind and tell your representatives! But also tell the Tea-GOP to fight without hostage taking and without sedition in MY country.
@Tom Paine
This country is made up of many states, each with their own legislative branches. It is not designed to be under federal mandates, and was never intended to be.
This is a debate about our country and the issues at hand. Personal attacks, which I'm sure come out of the Saul Alinsky and Obama playbook are not productive.
Instead of crying to the President. Ms. Brewer should have written to her Tea Party, Birther-bretheren and told them to knock of the shutdown and if they didsn't work, she could wag her finger disrespectfully in their faces. I hope Obama tells her to pound sand.
Rudy NYC: I'm still waiting for them to fund "Meals on Wheels" for the seniors.
No problem, Rudy. Paul Ryan will get right on that.
/sarcasm