Study Of Violence Against Park Rangers Called Silly Idaho’s Rep. Chenoweth Claims Bill Capitalizes On Oklahoma Bombing

Calling for a study of violence against federal employees is “silly” and amounts to “political grandstanding,” according to U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho.

Chenoweth voted Wednesday against most of her Republican colleagues and a majority of the House Resources Committee who want to examine the way law enforcement reports “intimidation, threats or acts of violence” against National Park Service rangers.

“Everyone was surprised anyone could take offense at this; it was a little baffling,” said John Lawrence, the committee’s Democratic staff director. “We fully expected this would breeze through with a unanimous vote.”

The amendment to the National Park System Reform Act was offered by George Miller, D-Calif., and recognizes the “dedication, expertise and courage” of park rangers. It passed 32-6.

Seventeen of the committee’s 25 Republicans supported it and two abstained from voting.

“We should all be deeply concerned about the growing violence against public officials,” Miller said in a written statement. “Criminals who intimidate and assault park rangers need to be prosecuted, not coddled by politicians.”

In 1994, 207 Park Service employees were assaulted and 36 were injured by guns, knives or other weapons, Miller said. In the wake of the April 19 Oklahoma City bombing, other federal agents have been assaulted, threatened and had guns drawn on them.

Park Service employees say they could use the support.

“It is a time to stop federal employeebashing,” said Joan Anzelmo, spokeswoman for Glacier National Park in Montana. “We have been a popular agency, but circumstances are changing.”

Bill Paleck, superintendent of North Cascades National Park, said park employees will be trained for the first time this year in conflict resolution.

Paleck called for the move after learning Forest Service workers carry cards telling them how to respond if “arrested” by antigovernment citizens’ groups.

Chenoweth, who has come under fire for charges she encourages the militia movement, said she stands “second to none in supporting our federal employees.

“I think it is truly sad that many politicians would try to capitalize on the climate following the Oklahoma City bombing for this kind of political grandstanding,” she said in a written statement.

Lawrence said the charge of grandstanding “was a way of saying I don’t want to discuss the substance.”

“Mr. Miller was called by dozens of federal employees to thank him for speaking on their behalf,” he said.

Chenoweth and the other five committee members who voted against the amendment - including Washington Republicans Richard “Doc” Hastings and Jack Metcalf - said it merely duplicated existing law.

A spokeswoman said Hastings supports tougher penalties for people who attack federal employees, and has endorsed a bill before the Judiciary Committee that would do that.

But he didn’t think Miller’s amendment was balanced to provide similar protections for citizens who suffer from overzealous federal employees, press aide Sheila Riggs said.

He also questioned wither the amendment, introduced with little advance notice from Miller, was germane to the bill, she said.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Craig Welch Staff writer Staff writer Jim Camden contributed to this report.