Robert Harris
02-19-2004, 11:52 AM
No sutrprise here, we've seen the examples for a couple of years. But an interesting reacition.
A bipartisan, all-star roster of Nobel Prize winners and former federal science officials accused the Bush administration Wednesday of politicizing science.
"When scientific knowledge has been found to be in conflict with its political goals, the administration has often manipulated the process through which science enters into its decisions," charges a document signed by 60 scientists in an unprecedented joint effort by the leaders of the nation's science establishment.
They are calling for an independent congressional investigation of federal science-advisory policies.
Researchers have been especially angry about administration moves to "peer review" federal regulations, excluding academic scientists while encouraging participation by scientists representing the regulated industry.
The report lists the following as objectionable practices, echoing past complaints from former government researchers:
? The removal of highly qualified scientists from lead-poisoning, environment, health and drug-abuse panels and their replacement with industry representatives.
? Forbidding EPA, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Interior Department scientists from speaking publicly.
? Revisions to the Endangered Species Act that limit scientists from commenting on the protection of habitats.
? The disbanding of advisory panels on nuclear weapons and arms control.
? The dismissal of assessments by national lab experts on the likelihood that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
Well, well, well. Industry people getting control...seems to be rife with opportunities for conflicts of interest.
A bipartisan, all-star roster of Nobel Prize winners and former federal science officials accused the Bush administration Wednesday of politicizing science.
"When scientific knowledge has been found to be in conflict with its political goals, the administration has often manipulated the process through which science enters into its decisions," charges a document signed by 60 scientists in an unprecedented joint effort by the leaders of the nation's science establishment.
They are calling for an independent congressional investigation of federal science-advisory policies.
Researchers have been especially angry about administration moves to "peer review" federal regulations, excluding academic scientists while encouraging participation by scientists representing the regulated industry.
The report lists the following as objectionable practices, echoing past complaints from former government researchers:
? The removal of highly qualified scientists from lead-poisoning, environment, health and drug-abuse panels and their replacement with industry representatives.
? Forbidding EPA, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Interior Department scientists from speaking publicly.
? Revisions to the Endangered Species Act that limit scientists from commenting on the protection of habitats.
? The disbanding of advisory panels on nuclear weapons and arms control.
? The dismissal of assessments by national lab experts on the likelihood that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
Well, well, well. Industry people getting control...seems to be rife with opportunities for conflicts of interest.