Republicans block science laureate vote over climate change stance fear

Conservative lobbyist told Congress members the new science ambassador would echo Obama on greenhouse gas regulations


The bill would have allowed Obama to name three laureates at a time to a two-year term. The posts would all be unpaid.

It seemed entirely harmless: the creation of an honorary and unpaid position of science laureate of the United States to travel around the country and inspire children to be future scientists.

But Republicans in Congress last week quashed the initiative, which had gained rare bipartisan support, on the grounds that a science laureate might support action on climate change.

The bill had been scheduled for swift approval last week. It would have allowed Barack Obama to name up to three laureates at a time to the two-year term. The posts would all be unpaid, and appointees credentials would be vetted by the National Academy of Sciences.

But after urging from the American Conservative Union, which bills itself as the country's largest and oldest grassroots conservative organisation, Republicans in the House leadership pulled the science laureate bill off the schedule, and sent it for revision.

In a letter to members of Congress, Larry Hart, a former Republican congressional aide and the legislative director of the ACU, warned a science laureate might give Barack Obama another chance to advance the case for climate action.

"Although the bill seems innocuous, it will provide the opportunity for President Obama to make an appointment of someone (or more than one person) who will share his view that science should serve political ends, on such issues as climate change and regulation of greenhouse gases," Hart wrote in the letter.

A staffer for one of the Republican co-sponsors of the bill told Science Insider, which first reported on the cancelled vote, that the opposition to a science ambassador was wrong-headed.

As first proposed last spring, the idea of a science laureate was intended to encourage American school children to choose science as a career – especially girls and minorities.

"The US Science Laureate will be a national role model who can encourage students to learn more about the sciences," Senator Mazie Hirono, the Hawaii Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, said in a statement at the time. "By elevating great American scientific communicators, we can empower students - especially girls and minorities - to get excited about science."

The Republicans' decision to scuttle the post – putting off a potential vote – looked bound to solidify the party's reputation for denying the science underlying climate change in particular, as well as being generally anti-science.

Some Republicans have begun to privately express concern about being seen as the anti-science party. But so far they remain in the minority.

This is just rediculous and I thought about putting it in the political madness section.

This position had no power behind it and wasn't even a paid position to hold. They were afraid of one issue which they didn't agree with being brought to light. Here is the thing if it can be shown that there is bad science behind it then scrap it but instead they scrap the entire program. They are the anti-science party they should just own it.

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reply to post by Grimpachi


Well, rack up another one for the "women can't get pregnant from rape" crowd....

Thank Gawd *some* politicians have some sense left.

This hoodwink would surely lead into some more corrupt shammy puppet green bankruptcies.

Obviously, these so called "science laureates" would be nothing more than glorified cash register operators and wax buffers.

There ain't no more rabbits left in the hat.

Like the old saying goes ----- You Can't Hide From the Sun

reply to post by Grimpachi

"Although the bill seems innocuous, it will provide the opportunity for President Obama to make an appointment of someone (or more than one person) who will share his view that science should serve political ends, on such issues as climate change and regulation of greenhouse gases," Hart wrote in the letter.

while obviously biased in favor of Big Oil, Hart certainly is speaking truth here,

scientists should stick to science and stay out of politics
or propaganda

instead of having "science laureates" [obviously with time on their hands, ironically resting on their laurels] encouraging kids on a whistle-stop tour;
why not provide that encouragement on a daily basis, in school?

note the almost wheedling, vaguely oily argument that it's not going to cost the taxpayer anything, because the "The posts would all be unpaid". ...
[insert willy wonka or bi*ch please meme here]

ssssuuurrrre...

I am embarrassed and very scared for the future of our country with asshats like these running things.

I can't believe anyone still votes for these people.

reply to post by xuenchen


Thank Gawd
*some* members have some sense left.

Yet this guy sits on the science board!!!

The party today going by the name of “Republican Party” is not the same as the one going by the same name 15 or more years ago. The one today is largely supported by the insane constituents of their gerimandered districts; they have no desire to legislate or work in the best interests of the American people. They hold no allegiance to the flag and the country it represents; they are loyal exclusively to Big Money and to Hell with the rest.

My disgust with them goes far beyond the embarrassment they continually bring upon what was once a well respected nation around the world. Considering all the unnecessay, avoidable pain and misery they have intentionally inflicted on our people and this country by their senseless obsession with obstructing ANYTHING-OBAMA, I’ve finally concluded that these people are nothing more than racist, political terrorists and should be lead out of Congress in handcuffs and tried for political extortion and treason. This country would be out of the recession by now, with a promising outlook, if not for these sociopaths we call leaders. They are intentionally, with total lack of regard or remorse, inflicting great pain on our citizenry simply to make Obama look bad. They couldn't care less if some poor, helpless 80 year old woman goes without her Meals on Wheels, or that some families out there might be forced to eat just once a day, even though they are struggling very hard working at 2 jobs. It’s frankly shameful and obscene what they are doing to this country.

Bottom line is I’m fed up with these goons and hope they all get fired in 2014. Now, if anyone cares to direct their spears and arrows in my direction, go right ahead.

God Bless America...