The state is looking for money to reopen a couple of national parks that have been closed because of the budget deadlock in Washington.
Some other states have started spending their own money to put National Park Service employees back to work at places like the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and the Statue of Liberty since Obama administration officials said states should not expect reimbursement from the federal government after the deadlock is broken and full federal function returns. However, legislation has been introduced in Congress to reimburse states within ninety days of the end of the shutdown. Some states have said they can’t afford to use state money for national park reopenings.
But Governor Nixon has a couple of Missouri parks in mind–the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the Ozark Scenic Riverways. He says both have a “tremendous economic impact” at this time of year.
Nixon, confident that the Cardinals will be in the World Series, says–tongue in cheek–that he wants the Arch grounds reopened so unruly Boston Red Sox fans are not left in downtown St. Louis with nothing to do.
Missouri has a dozen national parks and historic sites.
