. . . and the message is a negative one.
He points out that the entire newly imposed structure of fees to fund recreation on our public lands has been established by “midnight” riders to appropriations bills, “temporary programs” that somehow became permanent, or provisions buried deep within complex legislation. There was never a straight up or down vote in Congress to see how members of Congress really stood on making this fundamental change, so contrary to past traditions.
I’ll say it’s an affront to democracy, and yet another reason why Congress needed the big housecleaning it got, and maybe need still more. Meanwhile, pony up to buy your “America the Beautiful Pass.”
Here is government information (web site) on the pass that goes on sale Jan. 1, 2007
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is President of the Western Watersheds Project.
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I couldn’t help but take notice of this sentence (“If you are 62 or older or receive disability benefits, you may be eligible for the Senior or Access pass”) from the USGS Web site. “May?” This is akin to the now infamous “doughnut hole” in the federal prescription drug plans.
Whether you agree with this program or not, it is important to remember that 80% of the purchase price still goes to the park where you purchase the pass. Buy it at the park you want to support, not online, at REI, or from some secondary reseller.
Bob, that is an important point, and I will buy one!
But we must not forget to tell our members of Congress that America’s public outdoors is a public good, not a private one, and that we expect these lands to be funded much better than in the past.
Adequate funding would cost as much as a couple days of the civil war in Iraq, on which a trillion dollars has been wasted.
In other words, adequate funding is actually within the margin of error for budget estimates.
Drats! Tricked again….and by my own governmernt. No wonder so many Americans truly resent, even despise their government. Then again the majority of us don’t even bother to vote!