Its an election year and the third calendar year in the war on terror.
And during this banner political year, I have had time at my home in Reno, Nev.,
to reflect on my experiences as a congressional science fellow, and to make
some guesses regarding funding and policy decisions in 2004 that might have
an impact on geoscience professionals.
With a slim majority in the Senate, the Republicans control both houses in Congress
and the Executive Branch. Legislators are grappling with government reorganization
undertaken to ensure domestic security. The economy is improving, but the federal
deficit continues to expand.
In his proposed budget for fiscal year 2005 (FY05), President Bush provides
strong increases in spending for defense and domestic security programs but
limits other government programs to an average increase of 0.5 percent in order
to hold the line on a $521 billion deficit. Unfortunately, an annual
budget increase of only 0.5 percent doesnt even keep pace with inflation
and salary increases. Increases of only 3 percent represent flat funding. The
budget process will be bruising.
With the exception of the National Science Foundation (NSF), most geoscience
programs face dramatic spending cuts. Hopefully many of you participated in
Congressional Visits Day on March 4 to make the case to your legislators that
spending cuts to geological and water resource programs will adversely affect
their constituents. The scientific community will have to work even harder to
justify programs that must grow to provide guidance for future policy decisions
and research, but that do not provide an immediate, tangible benefit.
One of the greatest impressions made on me during my fellowship is the immense
power of the appropriation bills and not just because of monies involved.
Report language stipulates how certain programs are to be undertaken or how
certain funds are to be spent. In addition, as the only measures that Congress
must pass each year, the spending bills are important vehicles for modifying
policies through amendments and riders particularly for attaching provisions
that might have little chance of passing on their own. Policies with important
implications for geoscientists will be come up for action at different points
during consideration of the FY05 spending bills, and may be at the epicenter
of events at the end of the session.
Election 04
With only a handful of House races competitive this year, prospects for change
in the 109th Congress focus on the 2004 Senate elections. Almost one-third of
the senators are up for reelection, and the retirement of several prominent
Democrats leaves several races open.
As they have done in the past several years, the president and House Republicans
will generally work together to set the mark for negotiations with the Senate.
The coincidence of the election cycle with the Republicans narrow majority,
coupled with events at the close of the session last fall, doesnt bode
well for bipartisan cooperation in 2004. We appear to be in for an especially
rancorous year as each major party plays to its political base and tries to
motivate its constituency for the election.
Appropriating the geosciences
Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) who is not on the Senate Appropriations
Committee regularly annoys many appropriators with his denunciations
of the earmarks and pork included in spending bills. His favorite
targets are those spending items added to appropriations that are not related
to the primary mission of the agencies being funded. Why did senators provide
the Department of Defense with $2 million to fund Shakespeare in the military?
The appropriations process has shortcomings. But these should not detract from
the oversight role that enables Congress to address shortcomings in budgets
proposed by the executive branch. Unfortunately, the geoscience community will
be asking Congress to do just that again this year.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) takes it on the chin again you know
its bad when the bureau isnt even mentioned in the Department of
Interior (DOI) press release for the FY05 budget. Cuts in all major program
areas contribute to a bureau-wide reduction of $18.2 million, or 2 percent relative
to FY04 funding. Introduction of a new line item that consolidates funding for
information technology throughout the bureau makes it difficult to determine
the actual budget impact, but Cooperative Geologic Mapping, Geologic Resource
Assessment and Water Resources Investigations appear to be the hardest hit.
Despite water shortages, threats to watersheds and water supplies, and impaired
or depleted aquifers, the administration demonstrates little enthusiasm for
securing the nations water resources. Cuts to USGS programs pale in comparison
to the proposed 17 percent cut to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water projects
and the 9 percent cut to the Enivornmental Protection Agency (EPA). Federal
grants totaling $21 million under the Water 2025 Initiative (introduced
last year by DOI Secretary Gale Norton to promote water management through federal
partnerships with state and local entities) do little to offset spending cuts
to other water-related programs.
Unfortunately, the proposed cuts to water resource programs should come as no
surprise. The administrations long-term budget plan, as indicated by the
Office of Management and Budget, calls for expenditures on these programs to
decrease by 5 to 10 percent over the next five years.
Although the NSF budget increase of 4.7 percent does not put it on track to
reach the goal set two years ago of doubling NSF funding by FY07, it represents
a strong commitment to research in a difficult budget year. Two major geoscientific
research projects, EarthScope and the international Integrated Ocean Drilling
Program, received strong support. Meanwhile, proposed funding for the Department
of Energys Office of Science and energy programs is down 2 percent from
FY04 levels.
As the federal agencies are precluded from lobbying Congress, we need to impress
our legislators with the strategic nature of our natural resource and environmental
programs as they compete for adequate funding with the priorities of the day.
Last years success in restoring cuts made to USGS programs, however, will
be hard to match.
The large deficit and flat funding for most programs in the FY05 budget will
make it exceedingly difficult for legislators to restore spending cuts, let
alone find ways to increase funding as they did in 2003.
A rough ride
The process of funding the geoscience programs in the next budget year is going
to be rough. Not only will the budget negotiations be difficult, but the Interior
and Related Agencies appropriations bill which funds USGS and
major geoscience programs in the Minerals Management Service, DOEs Office
of Fossil Energy and land management agencies has also long been a
favorite target for controversial riders.
The Bush administrations reversal of many Clinton-era land management
and environmental policies has energized the perennial confrontation between
environmentalists and industry over the development of energy and natural resources
on public lands. In 2004, with Republicans in the drivers seat, the FY05
spending bill will almost assuredly contain provisions favorable to industry
that will provoke a strong Democratic reaction and provide fodder for the campaign.
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