Science Policy Developments
JOHN H. GIBBONS CONFIRMED BY SENATE: By voice vote yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Senate confirmed Gibbons to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. He will also be President Clinton’s science and technology adviser. One of Gibbons’ first duties will be staffing his office, and it is unknown how Clinton’s goal of reducing White House staff will affect the OSTP structure. (For further information on the Gibbons’ nomination, see FYIs #5, 12.)
WALTER MASSEY HEADED TO UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: A statement issued by the University of California confirmed that Massey has been offered the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and provost of the ten-campus UC system. The California Board of Regents is expected to approve this offer next month. In the UC statement, Massey said, “It’s such a fantastic opportunity to be part of the leadership of the greatest public university in the world, possibly the world’s greatest university. It’s an opportunity that I cannot pass up.” The university administers three national laboratories.
HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REACTS TO SSC LETTER: As summarized in FYI #11, former Secretary of Energy James Watkins sent House science committee chairman George Brown a lengthy letter summarizing the status of the SSC. In a prepared statement, Brown responded that Watkins “correctly identified the Catch-22 of foreign funding for the SSC: major foreign participation has remained elusive because of uncertainty about the U.S. commitment to the project, yet our own commitment has wavered in large part because of the absence of substantial foreign funding.... Rather than achieving an international consensus on the design and siting of the SSC from the beginning, along with a formula for international funding, the U.S. made all of the early decisions unilaterally and has been trying to internationalize it ever since. It’s no wonder that foreign funding has been so difficult to nail down. While I personally remain fully supportive of the SSC -- based on its vast potential to expand our understanding of the fundamentals of matter -- it is clear that this project’s fate will be determined by the new Administration. The budgetary and scientific issues reviewed in Admiral Watkins’ letter make it clear that the SSC will be among the most important and difficult science policy decisions facing the new Administration.”
BUDGET OUTLOOK/SCHEDULE: The change in administration has upset the usual budget schedule. Current predictions point to the release of a slim budget document by the Clinton Administration at the end of February that will be largely confined to economic stimulus plans. A “regular” budget may be out by late March if all goes well, although there is great uncertainty about when accompanying agency budgets (often larger than a set of NYC phone books) will be released. Everything is said to be under discussion. How this will affect the passage of 13 fiscal year 1994 appropriations bills that must become law by October 1 is unknown. EARLY WARNING ON SSC AND SPACE STATION FUNDING: One of the most interesting aspects of the Clinton Administration’s science and technology budget for fiscal year 1994 will involve the requests for the Superconducting Super Collider and Space Station Freedom. The new director of the all-powerful Office of Management and Budget, Leon E. Panetta, opposes the SSC (having voted against it on 6/17/92, although he voted for it on 5/29/91.) Panetta questioned the SSC during his confirmation hearing this month. Panetta also opposes the space station, having voted against it on 6/12/91, 4/29/92, and 7/29/92. During his campaign, Clinton supported both projects, and it remains to be seen how much weight Panetta brings to bear against both projects. Also to be considered is the influence which Secretary of Treasury Lloyd Bentsen, a former Texas senator, plays in the decision-making process.
NASA ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL S. GOLDIN: There is much speculation, but no firm information, on how long Goldin will be at NASA. Goldin’s agency reorganization has been put on hold.
