Weird Science

It will come as a surprise to some of you practically nobody, I'm sure, but a group of prominent scientists seem to feel that the Bush administration is somewhat disuninterested in science when it comes to making policy.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The voice of science is being stifled in the Bush administration, with fewer scientists heard in policy discussions and money for research and advanced training being cut, according to panelists at a national science meeting.

Speakers at the national meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science expressed concern Sunday that some scientists in key federal agencies are being ignored or even pressured to change study conclusions that don't support policy positions.

We have heard this complaint since 2000. It is continually denied by the Bush crew and continually brought up by the science community. The area of greatest concern for some people, particularly Christie Todd Whitman during her tenure in the EPA, is the environment. One of the group's members had something to say on that.

<>Rosina Bierbaum, dean of the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, said the Bush administration has cut scientists out of some of the policy-making processes, particularly on environmental issues.

"In previous administrations, scientists were always at the table when regulations were being developed," she said. "Science never had the last voice, but it had a voice."

Particularly with all the concern raised over the Kyoto treaty and our lack of participation, it would be good to know who Bush is getting his policy advice on the environment from. If not scientists, then who's providing the input? Jimmy Swaggert?