D-Grade Gives Environmentally Challenged President A Seat in Summer School; No Summer Vacation to National Parks

'The report cards are out, and the news is not good for President Bush and as a consequence not good for all Americans who enjoy our great national treasures -- our national parks.

'According to the National Park Conservation Association, President Bush receives a grade of 'D-' on his stewardship of America's national parks. The grade is a consequence of a disastrous line of policies that threaten the lifeblood of our national treasures.

'The irresponsible and short sighted policies of the Bush Administration are malfeasance of the highest order and are causing irreparable harm to our national parks. If indeed, this were a school time grade, President Bush would not be allowed to graduate to the next level. And this grade is just further evidence that President Bush should not be allowed to serve a second term.

'Moreover, if there is a statue in the front of America's classroom to a conservation hero, ironically, it would be President Bush's fellow Republican President Theodore Roosevelt. Yet, today, Theodore Roosevelt would be appalled and ashamed.
'Here is why George Bush has the worst record on the environment of any President in American History:

· President Bush is pushing hard to open America's most pristine wilderness areas to oil drilling. His ludicrous plan calls for drilling in some of Alaska's most delicate and beautiful ranges; to drill in the Red Rock country near two of Utah's most beautiful and popular national parks. This president has even proposed ways for big oil to drill in national monuments and in areas like the treasured Rocky Mountain Front in Montana. This is wrong and to the most cynical observer could easily be construed as nothing but a payback to big oil and energy interests for their support of his political campaigns.

· President Bush and his short sighted policies are clearing the way for clear cutting millions of acres of our national forests. He is simultaneously abandoning programs to safeguard our treasured parks while gutting funding to maintain them. And if this were not enough, the President rewarded selfish industry interests by obliterating a 137 year-old law that will lead to massive road building throughout sensitive areas of our national parks.

'As governor of Florida, I brought more environmentally endangered lands into public ownership than any other state in the nation during that time. We launched efforts to save our rivers, wetlands, and coasts, and we enacted the historic Save Our Everglades program. In the Senate, I've been a leader on protecting our national parks and our sensitive lands and as President, I pledge to be the most pro-conservation and pro-environment president since Theodore Roosevelt.

'President Bush has failed to keep the trust of the American people on the protection of our sensitive lands. He will be held accountable for his actions and I intend to lead the charge.'