Likely Impacts of Election on Science and Technology Spending

In the two weeks since the election, there has been considerable discussion in Washington science policy circles about the likely impacts of the Republican-dominated 104th Congress on science and technology policy and spending. This and following FY/s provide initial impressions on what to look for.

Science spending generally enjoys bipartisan support on Capitol Hill (although this is less true for technology funding.) Science has a lower profile than many issues that Congress and the Administration will focus on in 1995. Nevertheless, there are several factors that will influence science and technology deliberations.

Much of the debate will revolve around the budget. The Republican Contract with America calls for $147.9 billion in tax breaks and other programs that, under law, must be “paid” for. The two major choices for doing so are raising revenue (e.g., federal taxes) or cutting existing programs. Given the anti-tax mood of the electorate and the Members of Congress just elected, program cuts seem just over the horizon.

A document “Prepared by the House Budget Committee Republican Staff,” dated 9/22/94, entitled “Republicans Have a Proven Track Record of Cutting Spending; Examples of Possible Offsets for Contract with America; Taken from Republican FY 1994 & 1995 Budgets,” lists science and technology related spending cuts. These examples, with their total five year savings in billions of dollars are as follows:

Limit Rate of Growth for the National Science Foundation: -0.346 billion dollars

Eliminate the Advanced Technology Program (Dept. of Commerce): -0.819

Reduce Spending for the High Performance Computing Program: -1.230

Reduce the Overhead Rate on Federally Sponsored University Research: -1.620

Abolish Geological Survey: -3.261

Reduce Funding for Energy Technology Development: -2.139

Freeze Funding for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: -0.805

Abolish National Biological Survey: -0.139

Reduce Educational and Culture Exchange Programs: -0.276

Reduce Assistance for Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union: -3.481

Convert Campus Based Aid: -2.870

The two-page document lists $176.085 billion in total reductions over five years.

This is not a complete list of all cuts Congress may consider. For example, on a recent ABC news show, incoming Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (R-KS) said, “Everything ought to be on the table ... Should we eliminate some of these programs? Certainly.” In citing targets, Dole said, “maybe the Energy Department... I don’t see any useful purpose it serves. It can be wrapped into something else.”

The rationale for these spending cuts varies. In some instances it is philosophical, in other cases, more of a budgetary nature. Additional FYIs on this topic will follow.