The Shutdown Is More Bad News for Our National Parks and Monuments

Our national parks and public lands have suffered drastic budget cuts, seasonal closures, and more since the Tea Party took over the House of Representatives.

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The shutdown of the federal government this week put a spotlight on tourists turned away from Yellowstone, weddings on the National Mall cancelled, and hunting season in national wildlife refuges in peril.

According to the National Park Service, the closure of all 401 national parks costs local communities approximately $76 million per day in lost revenue from visitors. According to a Climate Progress analysis, states such as North Carolina and Tennessee lose more than $3 million per day from the closure of iconic national parks, including the Great Smoky Mountains.

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Shutdown Adds Insult to Injury for Crumbling National Parks and Monuments by Matt Lee-Ashley

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