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NBC News.com
Congressman
confronts Park
Ranger over closed WWII Memorial
By Mark Segraves
NBCWashington.com
updated 10/3/2013
Conflict over the
responsibility for the government shutdown got personal at the World
War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Wednesday when a member of
Congress confronted a U.S. Park Service Ranger over access to the
closed park land.
The congressman was Randy
Neugebauer, a Republican representing Texas. He confronted the ranger
in the middle of a crowd of tourists as she was keeping most of the
public out of the closed World War II memorial.
The Park Service has been
allowing World War II vets who have traveled from all over the
country to enter the memorial, even though it's closed during the
government shutdown; the rangers say they are exercising their First
Amendment rights as they let the veterans in.
But they are keeping the
rest of the public out of the facility, which is officially closed.
And that did not sit well with the congressman, reported News4's Mark
Segraves, who witnessed the confrontation.
"How do you look at
them and... deny them access?" said Neugebauer. He, with most
House Republicans, had voted early Sunday morning to pass a funding
measure that would delay the Affordable Care Act, a vote that set up
a showdown with the Senate and President Barack Obama. With the
parties unable to agree on how to fund the federal government,
non-essential government functions shut down Tuesday.
"It's difficult,"
responded the Park Service employee.
"Well, it should be
difficult," replied the congressman, who was carrying a small
American flag in his breast pocket.
"It is difficult,"
responded the Park Service employee. "I'm sorry, sir."
"The Park Service
should be ashamed of themselves," the congressman said.
"I'm not ashamed,"
replied the ranger.
At that point, a crowd of
onlookers got involved. "Ask those questions of the people who
aren't passing the budget," shouted a voice from the crowd.
"That's who you need to ask these questions to."
"This woman is doing
her job, just like me," shouted another. "I'm a 30-year
federal veteran -- I'm out of work."
For the rest of this
article and more, go to NBC News.com
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