© 2001 The Washington Post Company
June 21, 2001
By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer

PELHAM, Ala., June 21 -- President Bush, facing a new round of criticism from environmentalists for cutting some federal conservation programs, took to the banks of a bass-stocked lake today to say he is spending a record amount on the outdoors but is letting states decide where much of the money should go.

The trip was Bush's third visit to a park in less than a month, reflecting the growing concern among some administration officials about polls showing the environment as one of his weakest issues. Bush said his budget decisions about conservation programs reflected his philosophy that federal money "is most useful when it comes without strings, when it comes without dictates."

"I don't believe all knowledge and wisdom resides in Washington, D.C.," Bush said during a 13-minute speech at Oak Mountain State Park, in the tail of the Appalachians. "I believe we need to give states new flexibility on how to manage their conservation and resources. You could use the money to buy parkland; you can use it to protect endangered species; you can use it to try to get the hydrilla that clog some of our lakes."

While Bush has increased funding for the land and water conservation fund that he praised today, he did so while cutting or eliminating other conservation funding, including a wildlife grant program and a program to protect urban parkland.

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer defended Bush's approach at a combative briefing this morning. He equated the effort to leave spending decisions to states with changes that have been made in welfare and education programs.

"You can go down and look at it line item by line item by line item, but overall funding goes up," he said. "I think if you talk to state governments, you will find that they welcome the president's initiative because it's going to give them more money."

Riley Boykin Smith, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said as he waited for the president that many state parks officials remain hopeful Congress will change Bush's budget plan. Smith, a member of the cabinet of Gov. Don Siegelman (D), sounded wary of Bush's contention that funding for Alabama land and water conservation would go up 387 percent under his budget.

"We're proud to get any money from the federal government -- I appreciate it," Smith said. "But we don't want to see other programs eroded. Our department depends on a lot of current programs, and we don't want this new money to come at the cost of those."

The Alabama Sierra Club organized a protest of Bush's visit. Carl Pope, the Sierra Club's executive director, said in a statement from Washington that Bush is playing a "budgetary shell game" by moving several conservation programs into the Land and Water Conservation Fund. "While he's increasing a little in one pot of money, he's slashing funding for public lands protection elsewhere," Pope said.

The administration said Bush's budget proposal for next year increases conservation funding from $1.462 billion this year to $1.54 billion. The budget specifies $900 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides money for the creation and development of parks and recreation areas. The administration said that would be the first time the program has been fully funded since the legislation was passed in 1965.

"For a long period of time, the federal government has been falling short on its commitment to this fund, and many states have been denied money that was promised the citizens," Bush said at the park this afternoon. "And that's not fair, and under the budget I have submitted to the United States Congress, that practice will stop."

Bush, who wore a green-collared knit shirt, said he was impressed that the park draws 600,000 visitors a year. "It means it's just not a park for the few -- it's a park for the many," he said.

Bush spoke tonight in Birmingham at a $1,000-a-person fundraiser for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who is seeking reelection next year and has several Democrats contemplating challenges. The dinner was billed as the largest fundraiser in Alabama history and was expected to raise $1.7 million.

Afterward, Bush was to fly to his ranch near Crawford, Tex., where he is scheduled to be out of sight until Monday. Error: Unable to read footer file.