Congressman Walter Jones has filed a bill to overturn new rules on beach driving along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The eastern North Carolina Republican says new restrictions to protect sea turtles and birds will harm the local recreational economy.
Walter Jones: Instead of finding a balance between the endangered species and the people, it seems like that they're always giving more consideration to the endangered species. And I'm for protecting the endangered species, you know my work to protect the horses at Shackleford Banks and up in Corolla.
The new rules from the National Park Service are the result of a lawsuit from environmentalists. With a permit, off-road vehicles are allowed on most of the seashore for all or part of the year. But 26 miles are off limits to vehicles. Jones' fellow North Carolina Republican Renee Ellmers has signed onto his bill, which would reinstate looser rules that preceded the lawsuit.