Congressman Jason Smith has co-sponsored legislation to ensure that State governments would be reimbursed for expenses they incur opening National Parks back up to the public during the government shutdown. This legislation comes in light of the Obama Administration’s recent reversal of their policy to needlessly block and barricade citizens from accessing National Parks like the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
“President Obama’s National Parks service must be feeling the heat,” said Representative Smith. “For more than a week the Park Service has denied state requests to pay for the opening of National Parks. Now they will allow parks like the Ozark National Scenic Riverways to be opened, but are requiring states to foot the bill.”
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways was created in 1964 out of private property and other lands that included Big Springs, Alley Springs, and Round Spring State Parks. Implicit in the taking of both the state’s and private landowner’s property was the idea that the lands would continue to be open to the people of the State of Missouri.
“If states like Missouri are willing to take responsibility for their public lands and open them up, despite the antics of the federal government, then the federal government should pay them for their efforts. Missouri taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for the political games being played by the Obama Administration.”
