Ward Issues Statement on Threatened Closing of Bushy Run Battlefield

Greensburg -- State Senator Kim Ward (R-39), along with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday at Bushy Run Battlefield.

There were more than 375 people in attendance. Senator Ward and the State Commission heard from many who care deeply about Bushy Run. Steve Miller, Bureau Director for Historic Sites and Museums for the Commission, acknowledged to the crowd that Bushy Run will not be closed on July 1.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has threatened the closing of 35 state parks if the Senate Republican budget plan is enacted.

"It is disappointing that the Rendell Administration is scaring the public about possible closings of our historic treasures such as Bushy Run Battlefield," said Ward. "The administration and Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives are using a political sledgehammer to scare citizens into putting pressure on legislators to vote for a tax increase. As of now I haven't had an outpouring of constituents contact my office and ask me to raise taxes, so apparently the taxpayers are smarter than they are given credit for by the money grabbers in Harrisburg."

The senator added: "Funding for many worthy programs is being significantly scaled back because the state just doesn't have the money. The fact is we have a $3 billion deficit that has to be dealt with."