Reply #11: Yup. The proof is in the numbers.

[HuckleB]

Proposed Parks Budget Not Nearly Enough

http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/spring/news4.asp

"The Bush administration's proposed fiscal year 2005 National Park Service budget does not keep up with the day-to-day funding needs of national parks or the multi-billion-dollar backlog of maintenance projects, critics say.

   The budget would provide $2.4 billion to the Park Service and includes a $76.5 million, or 4.5 percent, increase for park operations. Although the budget targets some specific needs in the parks, critics say the overall budget does not come close to upholding the president's campaign promise to "restore and renew" the parks. "One of the few environmental commitments President Bush made was to eliminate the maintenance backlog in the national parks," says NPCA President Thomas C. Kiernan. "Regrettably, the administration has made little progress toward meeting this pledge."

   While on the campaign trail in 2000, Bush pledged $4.9 billion over five years to eliminate a backlog of park maintenance projects. Critics say not nearly enough money has been given to clear the backlog and that the parks are falling deeper into debt amid a series of rising costs within the Park Service. One of the biggest expenses involves protecting iconic parks for homeland security, a cost that rises to $60,000 daily when the country goes to "orange alert."

   On average, parks receive just 60 cents for every dollar needed, research shows."

More...
http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/spring/news4.asp

And this year's budget...

Final Spending Bill Shortchanges Parks

http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/january_february/news6.asp