NYT:Science Grp. Says US Budget Plan Would Harm Research

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Science Group Says U.S. Budget Plan Would Harm Research
By WILLIAM J. BROAD

Published: April 23, 2004


WASHINGTON, April 22 — The nation's largest general science group said Thursday that the Bush administration's proposed budget for the next five years could cut research financing at 21 of the 24 federal agencies that engage in it.

Among fields that would most likely be hurt, the organization said, are physics, medicine, oceanography, astronomy, geology, chemistry, psychology, biology, climatology, anthropology, ecology, mathematics, archaeology, meteorology, sociology and energy research.

"Particularly during a presidential election year, it's essential that policy makers and taxpayers understand the impacts of any federal budget changes, especially any proposals that may have implications for the pace of scientific discoveries in coming years," said Al Teich, director of science and policy programs for the group, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, based in Washington....

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In his analysis, (Ken Kowizumi, director of the budget program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science,) writes that Mr. Bush's pledge to halve the nation's budget deficit in the next five years, from its estimated level of $521 billion this year, would require "dramatic" cuts in various research budgets. The only research categories likely to escape the cuts, he said, are the military, domestic security and space exploration....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/23/politics/23RESE.html