YAKIMA, Wash. ? I?ve been getting some input this morning from people who read today?s ?More sweeping changes?? story, and one of the folks I?ve heard from is Jonathan Guzzo of the Washington Trails Association. And he thinks the recreation groups are doing a lot of worrying about, well, probably nothing.
Those recreationists? fears about the potential sweep of their dedicated rec funds into the general fund during the budget process, Guzzo said, are both premature and about something that is very unlikely. From a lot of folks, I?d just take that as ?OK, thanks, have a nice day? input. But as the WTA?s advocacy director, Jonathan spends a great deal more time than I do in the halls and offices of Olympia talking with legislators, so his opinion carries some weight.
He told me the inevitable backlash of such a sweep would make it de facto political poison for the very people who would have to pass the legislation necessary to make it happen.
?I would say if it?s an option, it certainly is one of the least attractive options for the legislature,? Guzzo told me, adding that it was probably ?counterproductive? to those recreation entities to be publicly sounding the alarm ? i.e., calling reporters ? this early in the budget process. ?I think it?s extraordinarily unlikely to happen.?
Guzzo said the same thing Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) told me yesterday ? that there is no budget yet, so fears about what might be in it can?t and shouldn?t be taken seriously. Guzzo also said if legislators did decide to do in 2012 what they did in 2009, when the NOVA and marine accounts were swept into the general fund to prevent the impending closure of dozens of state parks, would generate ?a lot of heat from a lot of people ? including Washington Trails Association.?
?We would fight it,? Guzzo said, noting that NOVA funds help maintain trails that are popular not only with motorized users, but with hikers as well.
It may well be true that the funds are very unlikely to be swept; I wouldn?t be at all surprised if these fears are unfounded, just much ado about nothing. But the fact that so many people are up in arms anticipating the worst is, well, kind of news in itself. That speaks of a general feeling of mistrust in the system and in the people responsible for making it work.
Then again, maybe that feeling has been out there long enough that it?s no longer news to anybody. And that?s pretty sad.
? Scott Sandsberry
Filed under Blogs, Out There, Outdoors
Source: http://sportsyakima.com/2012/02/a-viewpoint-rec-funds-sweep-unlikely/
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