Sherrod Brown: “I was shocked and saddened today to learn of the President's threat to eliminate or veto the parks bill that included a…”

“I was shocked and saddened today to learn of the President's threat to eliminate or veto the parks bill that included a number of projects. I was particularly disheartened over the decision to kill four Colorado environmental projects--surprised because, on a number of these, the administration has specifically reviewed them and signed off on them; that is, we had taken the trouble and the time to walk them through, to seek their advice, to incorporate their suggestions, and to work with them for something that could meet the President's guidelines. Thus, after doing that--and having secured, at least in many of those projects, the administration's input and approval--we are now faced with a political hit list with regard to Colorado projects. I think it is particularly surprising when you look at where that hit list focuses. It focuses primarily in States where the President has had a difficult time in winning good reelect numbers--Alaska, Colorado, and Virginia are the heaviest hit on that hit list. Mr. President, the projects in Colorado are bipartisan projects. They are ones that are of enormous benefit to the environment and the State. I hope that the President will reconsider. This is raw politics to punish those who will not go along with the President's bid for reelection. And it is vindictive politics.”