GOP Widens Effort To Stop Environmental Policies By Targeting Science

"Earlier this year, we told you about a strategy that congressional Republicans would increasingly use to attack environmental policies that they don’t like. Not only would they go after the actual policies, such as President Obama’s proposed carbon-dioxide rules for power plants. They would also try to overhaul the rules that regulators must follow in writing these policies, including how they use scientific data.

But now, there’s a new front: Congressional Republicans want to shift funding away from environmental and earth science research that can help policymakers assess how to regulate pollution and plan for the effects of climate change.

Recently, a House panel advanced a bill (19-15, along party lines) that would cut funds to NASA’s earth science programs, while boosting the agency’s space-exploration funds. In justifying these changes, House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) said the panel was seeking to strike a difficult balance and 'provide NASA with the resources necessary to remain a leader in space exploration in a time of tight budget realities.'"

Puneet Kollipara reports for the Washington Post May 7, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"The G.O.P.’s War on Science Gets Worse" (New Yorker)

"Republicans: NASA Wastes Money on Climate-Change Research" (National Journal)

"'Pollute at Will' Bill Enjoys Widespread Support From House Republicans" (InsideClimate News)

"The GOP’s Plan To Stop Environmental Protections: Attack Science" (Washington Post)

Source: Wash Post, 05/08/2015