[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BLM INVESTIGATION URGED

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, Everett Dirksen once said that ``a billion 
here and a billion there, and pretty soon you are talking about real 
money.'' Well, is $1.7 trillion of a Federal budget not enough to 
provide for the simple upkeep and maintenance of our national park 
system? Clearly the Bureau of Land Management does not think so.
  After complaining of a shortage of necessary funds to provide for the 
upkeep of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the BLM 
imposed a new user fee on anyone wishing to enter this national 
treasure. Well, what improvements have been made as a result of this 
hidden tax on the American people? None. Zip. Nada. In fact, the BLM 
used its own discretion to divert these funds it deemed necessary for 
improvements just to hire more government bureaucrats.
  Mr. Speaker, in a time when all Americans are being asked to do more 
with less to balance the Federal budget, government bureaucrats must be 
held to the same standard. I urge a full and complete investigation 
into this blatant misuse of taxpayer funds.

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