Don Medley

Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeley, California

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Politics of Science

The Superconducting SupercolliderA Cautionary Tale

The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), planned to be built mostly in Waxahachie, Texas, would have been the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator complex.

Its planned ring circumference is 87.1 km (54 miles) with an energy of 20 TeV per beam, potentially enough energy to create a Higgs boson, a particle predicted by the Standard Model but not yet detected.

“Ultimately, in 1990, President George Bush (a Texas resident) decided the Texas bid was the most acceptable one. Perceptions were that politics drove the decision more than scientific excellence although at this level, such qualitative distinctions involve often very fine lines.

Despite some mutterings, the project was funded initially by Congress. Fairly quickly in the program's life, however, the project came under fire especially as construction costs continued to escalate with projected total costs rising from $4.4 billion in 1987 to $8.25 billion in 1991 to $11 billion in 1993.

From a congressional perspective, the space station and ScSC came together as two high-tech projects operating with out of control budgets. The explanations provided by ScSC supporters proved unconvincing in part because the science suggested as so critical had little grounding in reality as understood by laypersons (who were no longer willing to automatically accept the professionals' judgments.

As the budget vise grew tighter upon discretionary spending, the ScSC became even more controversial. In 1992, the House struck down the ScSC but the Senate prevailed in conference. Later, in 1993, the House again moved to strike funding for the ScSC, providing only shut down funding. The Senate resisted but ultimately gave up; given the intransigent nature of the House's resistance to program continuation, further resistance was futile.”

The ScSC: Death of High Energy Physics Leadership in the United States

Congress, constituency, and jobs: the Superconducting Super Collider, the Space Station, and National Science Policy1 R. Handberg , Department of Political Science, Center for Space Policy and Law, University of Central Florida, HFA 414, Orlando, FL 32816-1356, USA

All that now remains are 200,000 square feet of still-vacant factories and labs, and over 30 km of carved-rock tunnels slowly filling with water.

A Renaissance for Science Funding?

Fact Sheet: The American Competitiveness Initiative: Encouraging Innovation

President Discusses American Competitiveness Initiative American Competitiveness Initiative

Today, President Bush Discussed His American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) – A Comprehensive Strategy To Keep Our Nation The Most Innovative In The World. As the President outlined in his State of the Union Address, the ACI commits $5.9 billion in FY 2007 and more than $136 billion over 10 years to increase investments in research and development (R&D), strengthen education, and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

Yes, it started with the Bush Administration….

But, the Obama Administration is placing an even greater emphasis on science.. Not just on funding, but also on using science to guide policy decisions.

Steve Chu, Secretary of Energy, Nobel Laureate

Steve Koonin, Under Secretary for Science, DOE, former Caltech Provost

John Holdren, Science Advisor to the President, Former Harvard Professor

Harold Varmus, Co-Chair, PCAST, Nobel Laureate and PresidentMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

More importantly – stepping up to the plate with funding “requests.”FY2010 Budget Request Invests in the Sciences. Investments in science and technology foster economic growth; create millions of high-tech, high-wage jobsthat allow American workers to lead the global economy; improve the quality of life for all Americans; and strengthen our national security.

The recovery Act included a $5 billion investment in key science programs, which is by itself an almost 50-percent increase for these programs over 2008 and represents a significant down-payment toward the President’s plan to double the funding for these agencies over 10 years.

Under the President’s doubling plan, the Budget provides a16-percent increase over 2008 funding levels for the National Science Foundation and similarly large increases for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

President transmits budget to Congress

AppropriationsBudget Hearings

AppropriationsLegislation Drafted

Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Committees“Mark Up”Legislation

Bills Passed byHouse and by Senate

AugustRecess

9/30End of Fiscal

Year

House and SenateConference Legislation

-------Final Passage

FY2005Omnibus

Signed intoLaw

Appropriations Process Timeline

Continuing Resolution??

House Appropriations Reports out

Energy and Water Development

Appropriations

2007 Continuing Resolution

Senate Appropriations Reports out

Energy and Water Development

Appropriations

2008 Omnibus

3 Simple Truths

1. Members of Congress and their staff thrive on and appreciate information

2. Members of Congress are always looking for things to do – oblige them

3. If you don’t go to DC you should know that everyone else is already there

Members of Congress and their staff thrive on information

• Staff have long lists of issue area responsibilities – you can make their jobs easier

• Keep it simple and understandable to the lay person – 8th to 10th grade level is recommended

• Whenever possible, link information to the Member’s district or state – you’ll get their attention quicker and hold it longer

• Members of Congress are usually ready and willing to write letters or have their staff make phone calls regarding programs and projects – very typical type of congressional action

• Congressional Record statements for anniversaries, major milestones, retirements, etc.

• Assistance on appropriations

Members of Congress are always looking for things to do – oblige them

• Face time is important – phone calls and emails as follow up

• Humility and empathy are critical – Members and staff are important and busy, understand this and let them know that you do

• Effusive appreciation is absolutely required

“The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” statement by Congressman Zack Wamp of Tennessee.

If you don’t go to DC you should know that everyone else is already there