The National Park Service and other federal agencies are in the thick of another political standoff and bracing for indiscriminate across-the-board spending cuts, or sequestration, in the middle of their fiscal year.
The possible affects of these cuts are detailed in the Beacon’s cover story this week.
Here are statements from Montana’s lawmakers regarding sequestration affecting Glacier National Park:
Sen. Max Baucus (D)
“Montanans are outdoor people. We hunt, we fish, we hike and our national parks are part of who we are. Just as we owe it to our kids and grandkids to protect our outdoor heritage, we owe it to them to solve our fiscal problems today instead of kicking the can down the road. I’m working hard on a balanced approach to addressing our deficit problem that ensures we’re not damaging key economic drivers to our state and our nation.”
Sen. Jon Tester (D)
“Glacier National Park is treasured for its beauty, but also for the jobs and economic support it provides our local communities. Reducing park hours or services will reduce tourism and have a direct effect on Montana’s economy – and it’s one more reason we need to avoid sequestration.”
Rep. Steve Daines (R)
“Yellowstone and Glacier national parks are treasures to our state and also serve as important economic drivers to surrounding communities. Our nation is facing a debt crisis, and it’s clear that we have to look for savings in every area of government —just like Montana families have done with their own budgets. But I believe we need to pursue a priority-based approach to finding savings, and it is my hope that Congress and the President can find an agreement that does so.”