FEDERAL CLIMATE SCIENTISTS MUZZLED

[PhilipShore]

IFEX, Canada

http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/81208/

PEN American Center has joined eight prominent free expression and academic organisations in calling for more congressional monitoring of the censorship of government scientists in the United States, following a government hearing in January 2007 that examined allegations that officials edited scientific reports and took other actions to downplay the significance of climate change.

They called for continued congressional monitoring to ensure that scientific research is protected from political manipulation by government officials.

The groups included the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Association of University Professors.

A recent study conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Government Accountability Project reveals widespread political interference in federal climate science. The report includes a survey of hundreds of federal scientists from seven federal agencies.

[texastoast]

1. Not just climate

Posted by Jim Hightower

Oh, swell. George W is assigning a political nanny to every agency in the federal government.

In a new directive, Czar Bush says that each agency must henceforth create a regulatory policy office to be headed by a political appointee chosen by... him. This nanny is to make sure that agency scientists and regulators comply with Bush's "priorities." Of course, George's regulatory priority is not to have any regulations – at least none that his corporate cronies find in any way objectionable.

Could it be that this is just a reconstructed spoils system to deliver regulatory favors to Bush's corporate backers? Oh, no, no, says the Bushite in charge of the new nanny brigade: "This is a classic good-government measure." I spewed my drink right out of my nose when I heard that one! These guys are to "good government" what a coyote is to good sheep management.

http://www.jimhightower.com/node/6053