We have a new development with the National Parks Service, who last week complained that its meager budget would mean less lifeguards, less trash pickup, and less rangers at many of its sites.
The Washington Times reports today that the Park Service “has spent nearly $100 million on travel, including foreign junkets to China, Japan, Africa, France and Russia since 2002.” Also, “despite limited funding for current projects, renegade employees secretly planned and designed four new major construction projects with a $243 million price tag, plus tens of millions for yearly operational expenses,” lawmakers discovered.
“Lawmakers didn’t learn about a $22 million visitor center at Grand Teton National Park until the developer came to Capitol Hill last week asking for funding he said the Park Service had committed to him.
“‘Common sense dictates that before you embark on an expensive new project, you should first consult with the people who are paying the bills,’ said John Scofield, spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee. ‘And the Park Service has not vetted these projects with the bill payer, which is Congress.'”
