National Mall Showing Its Age

Price Tag on Maintenance of Nation's Front Yard Is Causing a Budget Controversy

(CBS)  Each Fourth of July, the National Mall sparkles like a jewel.

But by day it's clear, the nation's front yard - as it is known - is in need of some serious yard work, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

There's crumbling sidewalks, stained marble. Even the reflecting pool, that Civil Rights and cultural touchstone, is a sad, soupy algae-filled mess.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Stephen Lorenzetti of the National Park Service.

Lorenzetti said the Mall is overdue for about F $400 million worth of maintenance, including $18 million to shore up the rapidly sinking seawall that fronts the Jefferson Memorial.

Congress made a dent in that repair bill when it approved $56 million for Mall maintenance in the stimulus bill. Part of a larger $750 million outlay of stimulus funds for the entire national park system which the interior department claims will help create or retain 30,000 jobs.

"That was criteria number one. Which of the projects that we currently have of our entire list for the national parks that are going to put back to work," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "This project here will put people back to work."

But those who opposed the stimulus package are particularly bugged by the seed money for the mall.

"You know what? It's not an emergency," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Republican from Texas.

Hensarling lobbied successfully to strip the stimulus of the Mall cleanup funds, only to see the money get put back in at the last minute.

"This grass does look pretty bad," Cordes told Hensarling.

"Oh, I don't deny, I would like more grass on the Mall," Hensarling said. "But again I don't want to borrow money from the Chinese, send the bill to my children and my grandchildren to help pay for it."

The administration defends the funds as an investment in the local economy - 25 million tourists visit the National Mall every year. That's more than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite combined.

[darthcheney345]

Obama is a failure.

Obama is the worst president in 100 years.

[debinok1]

Here is an idea. We have over 6 Million people who are being paid to do nothing, just sit at home and collect their unemployment. Why don't we gather all of those that have the skill sets required to restore this National Monument and put them to work doing just that. Most of the cost associated with this is manual labor with very little cost in supplies. And if that doesn't sit well with whomever, we have prisoners, they are being fed, clothed and housed at our expense, put them to work. How about all the teens complaining about no summer jobs, make it a volunteer program for them. Yes it should be restored and look nice, that does not mean we have to spend millions doing it.

[chaseangus]

In the New America, Americans could care less about pride of country. It's all about texting or sitting on a couch in front of a "big-screen teevee" getting fatter and lazier by the nano-second. No wonder the latest poll shows that America is ranked 114th in the Happiness Rankings worldwide and that we are less happy than we were 20 years ago.

[hamiltongrad]

We need to have one more interview with Ted, before it is too late.

Time for Ted to Talk, ? what really happened ?








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[skyk-2009]

It is sad to see what has become of this Nation during the 3 decades of Unbridled Capitalism. Give to the rich and HOPE for the best!

[tautomer]

There's crumbling sidewalks, stained marble. Even the reflecting pool, that Civil Rights and cultural touchstone, is a sad, soupy algae-filled mess.
________________________________________________________________________

Sounds like a fitting description of the current situation under Obama!!!!

[skyk-2009]

So in 6 months our Young VERY Intelligent Leader brought all this about? Yep, you are a ditto head, wishing for failure! Say how does it feel to wish your country will fail. Hope to continue the polices and government that brought these things to us? I have NEVER in my life wished any leader or my country would fail so I just wondered what kind of person would do that?

[hamiltongrad]

What is going on in DC ? The schools are a mess, they cant even keep the lawns green, and the water clean since the Dem have taken over. Where is all that loan money gone to ?? Lavish dinner parties for Wash newsmen and lobbies. /?

[Newster1]

"You know what? It's not an emergency," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Republican from Texas.


Bet if it was in TEX-ASS he would have welcomed it!