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| John Bell holds the ticket he got for daring to run through public lands during the government shutdown |
Of course nobody wants the deficit to get worse, so you have to make up the money that might have been lost in the shutdown, right?
They're starting with a guy named John Bell. He took a run last week through Valley Forge National Historic Park as he often does, and got fined $100 for the effort, according to CBS Philly.
It's a national park you see, and it's closed due to the insane federal shutdown over the budget impasse.
Plus, the federal government says it's short of money so I suppose they could use the $100 from Bell.
Bell said he parked his car in a remote lot that wasn't blocked off and figured the shutdown probably closed the visitors center and such, but the trails were still open. No federal work has to be paid to just watch the trails, he figures.
Bell said he notes the irony of the fact that he was running for fitness, which would ultimately hold down health care costs. The shutdown was originally about Republicans wanting to stop funding Obamacare. He was doing his part to stay healthy and save health care dollars.
But then again, as I said, the government needs the $100. Bell said he will appeal the fine, however.
Bell has company. The King of Prussia Courier in Pennsylvania said at least 20 other people have gotten fines for going into the Valley Forge Park.
If Bell and the others appeal the fines, I think they have a good chance. After all, aren't national parks technically their property? The lands belong to the public, after all.
If not, I can picture an angry crowd with torches and pitchforks chasing John Boehner through the Valley Forge park trails.
It's a national park you see, and it's closed due to the insane federal shutdown over the budget impasse.
Plus, the federal government says it's short of money so I suppose they could use the $100 from Bell.
Bell said he parked his car in a remote lot that wasn't blocked off and figured the shutdown probably closed the visitors center and such, but the trails were still open. No federal work has to be paid to just watch the trails, he figures.
Bell said he notes the irony of the fact that he was running for fitness, which would ultimately hold down health care costs. The shutdown was originally about Republicans wanting to stop funding Obamacare. He was doing his part to stay healthy and save health care dollars.
But then again, as I said, the government needs the $100. Bell said he will appeal the fine, however.
Bell has company. The King of Prussia Courier in Pennsylvania said at least 20 other people have gotten fines for going into the Valley Forge Park.
If Bell and the others appeal the fines, I think they have a good chance. After all, aren't national parks technically their property? The lands belong to the public, after all.
If not, I can picture an angry crowd with torches and pitchforks chasing John Boehner through the Valley Forge park trails.
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