CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
– SCIENCE
March 3, 2009 – 4:21 p.m.
Science Nominees Blocked by Multiple Holds
By Adrianne Kroepsch, CQ Staff
Multiple senators anonymously blocked the nominations of two top science advisers intended to play a major role in the Obama administration’s climate change policy, delaying their confirmation.
John P. Holdren, nominated to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Jane Lubchenco, picked for undersecretary of Commerce for oceans and atmosphere, had been expected to receive a quick floor vote. They received an amicable confirmation hearing Feb. 12 and plaudits from the science community otherwise.
But Holdren, a Harvard University physicist, and Lubchenco, an Oregon State University marine biologist, may have to undergo an extra round of review, Senate style.
Multiple senators have placed anonymous holds on the science advisers’ nominations, according to John D. Rockefeller IV , D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the nominations.
“It’s infuriating,” said Rockefeller, who backs Holdren and Lubchenco’s hiring. “They’re brilliant scientists.”
Science advocates said they are frustrated by the blocking of administration officials they argue are needed now more than ever. The holdup could slow timely science and environmental policy work between Congress and the administration, particularly the spending of roughly $21.5 billion dedicated to science in the economic recovery package (PL 111-5).
“Given the importance of science-related issues both to economic recovery and the major issues of the day, it’s unfortunate that these nominations are being held up for reasons unrelated to the merits of the nominees,” said Alan Leshner, chief executive of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an international science advocacy organization and publisher of the journal Science. “One of the advantages of these appointments is that they are true experts who are leaders in science. We need them to lead. Now.”
A Senate vote on Holdren and Lubchenco had not yet been scheduled, producing more uncertainty as to the status of their nominations.
Should Senate leaders decide to push the nominations to the floor anyway, overriding the hold would require 60 votes.
Comments
Why are anonymous holds still allowed. This rule should be abolished immediately. If a Senator needs to hold up legislation or nomination they should do it "in the light of day", not hiding behind anonymity.
Can anyone explain to me the procedure where a nomination can be held up "anonymously"? As a scientist living in a country where the previous administration didn't believe in science, I want to know who the obstructionists are. More importantly, they need to explain and take responsibility for their actions. Anonymous. Translation: cowards.
Is it finally time for the Majority Leader to lead the majority by forcing the disclosure of holds and ensuring the President's cabinet completion?
Anonymous holds? Shades of the Starr Chamber. Anonymous holds are incompatible with good government. Shame on those Senators. They are abusing their powers.
Time to change the Anonymous Hold rule.
Book he authored in 1977 advocates for totalitarian measures to control the population. - "Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods is a suggestion that seems to horrify people more than most proposals for involuntary fertility control. Indeed, this would pose some very difficult political, legal, and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems. No such sterilant exists today, nor does one appear to be under development. To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements: it must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets, or livestock". - Ecoscience, co-authored in 1977 by John Holdren and his close colleagues Paul Ehrlich and Anne Ehrlich Wake up folks start paying attention to who is ruling us.
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