Get PJ Media on your Apple

The PJ Tatler

by
Bryan Preston

Bio

October 3, 2013 - 10:51 am

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is stepping up to defend the parks in his state.

The state Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday refused a directive from the National Park Service to close a host of popular state properties because of the federal government shutdown.

The park service ordered state officials to close the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine, Devil’s Lake, and Interstate state parks and the state-owned portion of the Horicon Marsh, but state authorities rebuffed the request because the lion’s share of the funding came from state, not federal coffers.

State officials opted to keep public lands open as Gov. Scott Walker blamed both Republicans and Democrats for the partial government shutdown and said congressional leaders should run the nation more like Wisconsin. Democrats balked at those comments, saying the Republican governor has had a tumultuous tenure that has divided people.

And there was that matter of the failed recalls. Democrats in Wisconsin have not been amenable to getting along with Walker, at all. So that probably wasn’t the best suggestion. But Walker’s actions will keep some parks in his state open.

On Wednesday, state and federal authorities came to loggerheads over access to state land when the Park Service directed the DNR to close properties in which the state and the federal government had a cooperative financial agreement.

The federal agency provided the DNR $701,000 for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to the DNR. The DNR said the majority of money for the parks comes from the state and that it would use state funds to continue operations.

Bryan Preston has been a leading conservative blogger and opinionator since founding his first blog in 2001. Bryan is a military veteran, worked for NASA, was a founding blogger and producer at Hot Air, was producer of the Laura Ingraham Show and, most recently before joining PJM, was Communications Director of the Republican Party of Texas.

Comments are closed.

All Comments   (5)
All Comments   (5)
Sort: Newest Oldest Top Rated
Politicians in California are complaining that since so much of California is "federal" land, we're losing millions of tourist dollars each day.

I suggest that Jerry Brown "de-nationalize" all the so-called "federal" land in California, and take it over for the good of California. The only exception should be active military bases, of which there are a LOT fewer than there were before the last round of base closures.
1 year ago
1 year ago Link To Comment
Couple of thoughts here...

First of all, if the state can handle the expense of the parks, why are taxpayers all across the country having to subsidize a Wisconsin park?

Second, this is a clear example of why the states should start divesting themselves of as much entanglement with federal funding as possible.

Every federal dollar that subsidizes a state's activities is nothing less than a leash the federal government can tug on at will.

No federal dollars, no leash, no leverage with which Uncle Sam can tug.
1 year ago
1 year ago Link To Comment
I don't know how you stop taking federal free stuff. Palin made a big show about it here, but wound up taking it all. If a Governor or legislative leaders stand up and say they won't take it, somebody runs against them promising to "bring home the bacon" and beats them. The whole damned Country is addicted to free stuff and the only difference between those who vote D and those who vote R is which free stuff they're most attracted to.
1 year ago
1 year ago Link To Comment
Considering we're broke and up to our collective keesters in trillions of dollars in debt - not sure there is any "bacon" left to bring home.
1 year ago
1 year ago Link To Comment
There you go again, being all truthy and all.
1 year ago
1 year ago Link To Comment
View All

One Trackback to “Gov. Scott Walker: No Barrycades in Wisconsin If I Can Help It”