Don Medley

1
The Politics of Science
Don Medley Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory Berkeley, California Thursday, June
25, 2009
2
The Superconducting Supercollider A 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.
3
The ScSC Death of High Energy Physics
Leadership in the United States
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.
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
4
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.
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A Renaissance for Science Funding?
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Yes, it started with the Bush Administration.
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 (RD),
strengthen education, and encourage
entrepreneurship and innovation.
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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
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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 jobs that 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 Presidents
plan to double the funding for these agencies
over 10 years. Under the Presidents 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 Energys Office of Science and the
Department of Commerces National Institute of
Standards and Technology.
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Appropriations Process Timeline
2007 Continuing Resolution
President transmits budget to Congress
2008 Omnibus
Appropriations Legislation Drafted
House and Senate Conference Legislation ------- Fi
nal Passage
Bills Passed by House and by Senate
Appropriations Budget Hearings
Committees Mark Up Legislation
August Recess
Continuing Resolution??
Jan Feb Mar April May June
July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
9/30 End of Fiscal Year
House Appropriations Reports out Energy and Water
Development Appropriations
FY2005 Omnibus Signed into Law
Senate Appropriations Reports out Energy and
Water Development Appropriations
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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 dont go to DC you should know that
   everyone else is already there

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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
  Members district or state youll get their
  attention quicker and hold it longer

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

• 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

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If you dont go to DC you should know that
everyone else is already there

• 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.