Billions of zeros

Feb. 6, 2009

In an economy as desperate for recovery as ours, it’s inevitable some workers will be left out in the cold. It’s just too bad that many of these might be the most educated and knowledgeable of our work force.

The 2009 Senate American Reinvestment and Recovery Act aims to get the engine started again. The U.S. economy has been productive, but capital is short. Workers are taking it on the chin, and soon, America’s R&D infrastructure will absorb some punches.

An effort by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to lower the price tag for President Obama’s stimulus package involves removing nearly $80 billion from the more than $900 billion that’s been amassed thus far.

Unfortunately, this excision involves major federal research agencies, including the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). Some are seeing their stimulus money completely zeroed out as part of this trimming effort. If approved, the Collins and Nelson cuts would eliminate:

* 100% of the National Science Foundation’s $1.4 billion budget allocation;

* 100% of the U.S. Drug Administration $300 million effort to modernize;

* More than a third of the budget increases for both NOAA and NIST;

* 100% of the Alternative Vehicle Technology Procurement ($100 million);

* $1 billion of DOE’s Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy $2.65 billion budget increase;

* Nearly 50% of the EISA energy technology loan guarantee program’s $9 billion stimulus;

* 50% of NASA Exploration’s $1.5 billion budget

But a variety of other suggested cuts seem downright bizarre, such as a 100% slashing of the Dept. of Energy’s Office of Science increase, and the wholesale removal of the National Science Foundation’s stimulus money. Of course, NSF staffers haven’t done themselves any favors by becoming a target of Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) over damning allegations from an investigation that revealed extensive porn surfing by top NSF staffers. These revelations cost them dearly, but vengeance is bad policy. Similarly, the Smithsonian was embroiled in a financial scandal in recent years, instigated by a single individual. Was it egregious enough to warrant removal 100% of an increase in the institution’s facilities capital?

Cutting the stimulus for NASA also seems wrong. This is likely part of the dismantling of former President Bush’s Vision for Space Exploration. Fine, but this is exactly the sort of R&D that stimulates creative solutions for the good of everyone, from the GigaPan photo of the presidential inauguration to the analysis of water on Mars. Besides, the agency has already eaten significant cuts in recent years.

Others cuts seem equally myopic, such as a $122 million cut in funds to buy or refurbish polar icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard. Doesn’t an increasingly ice-free Arctic demand greater U.S. presence? In among a nearly $5.2 billion (or about 90%) increase in Prevention and Wellness funding were billions for HIV/AIDS testing, diabetes screening, and pandemic flu prevention. All indications are that none of these problems will fade without funding, and it could be argued they will only intensify.

Are there any cuts that make sense? Well, yes, many of the IT upgrade programs don’t seem unreasonable to delay. But I find it hard to believe that non-science funding will make up the difference, especially when they include items like multi-million resort upgrades and silly tax breaks. Do we really need give people tax breaks to go out buy a car they don’t need? The auto industry has been overselling for years. When people absolutely need a car, they’ll go out and buy one. It’s time to put away the childish things, right?

Nelson’s and Collins’ bipartisan brainstorm is clearly an effort to simply get the stimulus passed. Whether or not these cuts make sense probably matters little now that Congress is in an 11th hour situation with the entire nation watching. Theirs is a political gamble that may pay off dividends for both down the road, but what about scientists and U.S. R&D? The scramble will simply run roughshod over research money designed to keep America from ever falling into decay.