Zinke also pledged to tackle an estimated $12 billion backlog in maintenance and repair at national parks and stand firm against attempts to sell, give away or transfer federal lands."
This is worth giving Zinke the benefit of the doubt. Congress has stripped away financial support for federal public lands - most notably BLM and Forest Service. Support needs to be restored - not reduced by 10% as in the proposed budget.
“I think the state should have a say on it,”
This sounds good at face value. Unfortunately, elected representatives are currently trying to override their constituents on the management of public lands. Polls repeatedly show that an overwhelming majority of citizens support keeping public lands public. In Colorado, a majority of residents do NOT support state ownership/management of public lands because they do not trust the state to maintain access and quality.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Zinke at Interior should “concern every lover of our great and grand national parks.”
Not sure why Schumer is singling out national parks. It would be very difficult to change the management of NPs because of overwhelming support. Somebody needs to take Schumer on a backcountry trip and show him what else is out there. NPs are hardly open and wild spaces. They’re heavily managed. The wild, open spaces and the best wilderness experience can be found on Forest Service and BLM lands and these are the most endangered places now.