Oklahoma Senator Signs Off On Report On National Park Service Oversight

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn has set his sights on waste within the National Park Service.

He signed off on a report released Tuesday, critical of the service's priorities and of Congress.

Coburn called Congress "greedy" and "shortsighted" when dealing with the park service.

He said Congress expands the number of parks, but ignores ongoing maintenance issues.

He claimed the service has an $11 billion maintenance backlog and more than $600 million in administrative costs.

The report also calls for increasing fees and slashing the number of park sites and rangers who maintain them.

A group of retired park service employees called Coburn's report ill-conceived, and said the bigger problem is Congressional dysfunction.