BY DAVE PARRO
Our Illinois congressional delegation went into damage-control mode Friday afternoon, sending out a press release urging the Bush administration to increase funding for Fermilab.
The Batavia research facility is facing drastic cuts after Congress passed a federal budget this week that slashed funding for the sciences. Now Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert are trying to find a way to soften the "severe blow" to high-energy physics.
So where were those three earlier this week?
According to the congressional roll call, Durbin and Biggert voted in favor of the $555 billion budget, and Obama -- in keeping with his recent habits -- was too busy campaigning for president to even cast a vote.
Their own letter sums up the situation quite well, which means they do in fact understand why funding science is important:
The facilities at Fermilab are essential for the basic scientific research that nurtures technological and scientific advances, and that fuels American innovation. Fermilab is one of a handful of our nation's premier training sites for scientists, and a centerpiece of the system of DOE National Laboratories. Disruptive funding shortfalls have ripple effects throughout the American scientific community, displacing today's scientists and discouraging tomorrow's. We must work together to restore funding in basic physics research to maintain America's role as the innovator in technology, to retain our leading scientific institutions and their skilled workforces, and to provide opportunities for future scientists.
Apparently the United States' scientific standing in the world is important enough to talk about, but not to fight for when it really counts.
Ummm last time I checked guys the Democrats control both houses of congress and the conference committee. Kind of late to be asking the president for help.
Actually, since the Democrats do not have the 60 votes to cut off Republican filibusters, it's quit impossible to successfully pass legislation without some Repbulican/Independent cooperation.
To Mr. Parro, you might also have pointed out that had Mr. Hastert not quit, then perhaps our local representative might have been able to point out and work to correct the funding issue out prior to the bills approval. But alas, we have no local representative any longer...