Jorgensen will protect parks

I received a letter from Rep. Elton Gallegly on July 30 which included various oil drilling legislation he supports or has cosponsored. After having just returned from Mt. Rushmore I began to wonder if the new proposed legislation protects specifically our national parks and monuments.

After numerous calls and letters to the congressman's office in Thousand Oaks, which provided no answer, I finally called his Washington office to find out if there is any written protection for national parks and monuments in the new legislation.

I also inquired if there is no written protection, would the congressman be willing to attach a rider or amendment to pending legislation to specifically prohibit oil drilling or exploration in the national parks and monuments.

I was able to speak to one of his aids around Sept. 18. He said that there are no written provisions in the pending legislation excluding nation parks or monuments and that the congressman would not entertain such a proposal because it might become necessary one day to drill in the parks.

The thought of drilling in Yosemite Valley, Lassen or Yellowstone national parks is reprehensible. Whatever has happened to the party of Teddy Roosevelt? We need a representative in Congress who will support prudent additional oil drilling but will work to absolutely prohibit oil drilling in our national parks. If drilling and exploration were allowed, these magnificent portions of our land would no longer be the same.

I urge people who believe in the sanctity of our national parks to vote for Marta Jorgensen. Theodore Roosevelt would not support anyone, even a fellow Republican, who would despoil our precious national parks and monuments. Sheldon Winston Oak Park