John McCain Wants to 'Revitalize' U.S. Parks
12/21/99
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Title: McCain Wants to 'Revitalize' U.S. Parks; Candidate Targets
Funding Shortfall
Source: The Washington Post
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: December 21, 1999
Byline: Ben White
Republican presidential aspirant John McCain yesterday promised a
"conservative approach to conservation," invoking the memory of
Theodore Roosevelt as creator of the national park system and a model
for a Republican approach to the environment.
In a campaign appearance in New Hampshire, McCain promised as
president to "revitalize" the parks system, which he said faces a
shortfall of $5 billion needed for capital improvements.
The Arizona senator said he would eliminate that shortfall by
dedicating to the park system the $800 million in disputed oil lease
revenue awarded to the federal government in a recent legal dispute
with the state of Alaska and issuing "TR Bonds," named for the former
president.
McCain said he would authorize the Interior Department to contract
with private fund-raising organizations to issue the taxable bonds,
which would be secured by a portion of the revenue generated at
national parks each year.
McCain also attacked the Clinton administration's policy of using
executive orders to designate certain lands as off-limits to
commercial development.
McCain gave his remarks near the White Mountain National Forest in
New Hampshire. Tens of thousands of acres in the White Mountains
would become off-limits to new road construction under the Forest
Service's proposed "roadless" policy intended to protect about 40
million acres of national forests from logging and other commercial
activity.
It is a hot issue in New Hampshire--site of the vital leadoff
presidential primary Feb. 1--where many residents who make their
living through logging are used to local control of forest lands.
McCain said that as president he would revoke all of Clinton's
executive orders setting aside lands and would insist on local input
in all land management decisions. McCain's campaign acknowledged that
stance would conflict with Theodore Roosevelt's record: As president,
Roosevelt used an executive order to create the Pinnacles National
Monument in California, which Clinton said last week he intends to
increase by some 8,000 acres next year.
Dan Weiss, political director of the Sierra Club, offered a mixed
reaction to McCain's speech yesterday. "At least he's talking about
protecting the environment. Unfortunately, in part of his speech, he
opposed the biggest public land protection effort in the last 20
years," Weiss said, referring to the roadless forest proposal.