Senate Advances "Secret Science" Bill, Sets Up Possible Showdown With President

sciencehabit writes: Republicans in Congress appear to be headed for a showdown with the White House over controversial "secret science" legislation aimed at changing how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses scientific studies. A deeply divided Senate panel yesterday advanced a bill that would require EPA to craft its policies based only on public data available to outside experts. The House of Representatives has already passed a similar measure. But Democrats and science groups have harshly criticized the approach, and the White House has threatened a veto.

Comments

EPA has exceeded safe limits, needs curbing

[sideslash]

The EPA under the current administration has been going a little crazy with expanding its oversight into areas it's not really entitled to oversee. For example, it is not at all clear that the EPA should be regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant. There isn't a compelling scientific case for it, nor is there legislation that covers it. The EPA has been overdue for a smackdown to draw it back to a more focused and appropriate mission.

Re:EPA has exceeded safe limits, needs curbing

[sumdumass]

Perhaps their mission should be to mow the whitehouse lawn. There certainly is no constitutional basis for the EPA to exist anyways.

That being said, what exactly is your problem with requiring all information the EPA uses to set policies be open to the public and able to survive scientific scrutiny? I would think you of all people would be championing this transparency as well as the stability the rigor of the scientific process could give as they justify their moves. Perhaps you only don't like it because republicans want it to happen?

Re:Why is this even a debate?

[AK Marc]

Citation? TFB (The Fucking Bill). I've read it. The "openness" required would ban funding most analysis science, and that's the type used for long-term health studies and climate. The Conservatives are happy to kill innocents to push their personal opinion as law. They are so afraid of AGW that blocking most medical research wouldn't matter to them.

You act like you haven't read the bill. Or you don't know how studies are done.