A look at today’s science and health policy news:
The Gas-Guzzler Gambit
NY Times- While McCain and Clinton have both decided that they would temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, it will do little to help Americans.
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An energy incentive is drifting in the wind
Star Tribune- Federal tax law discourages individual investment and local ownership of turbines.
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Green cars have some congressmen seeing red
Houston Chronicle- A little-noticed amendment in last year’s energy bill requires House members who lease cars through their office budget to drive low-emissions vehicles.
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Creationists fail in bid to offer ’science’ degrees
Nature- A religious group had its bid to offer Master of Science degrees rejected by Texas authorities.
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NASA’s next-gen spaceship panel draws fire
Houston Chronicle- A board set up to review construction of the spaceship to return astronauts to the moon is loaded with employees of the contractors they are supposed to scrutinize.
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Science groups want war cash
Politico- Tech executives, and college administrators are seeking a $500 million boost to restore funding cuts to the National Science Foundation.
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Bipartisan Coalition Seeks $2B More for NASA Programs
CongressDaily- A coalition of 30 representatives is urging the House leadership to add $2 billion to NASA’s funding.
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Stem cells: The 3-billion-dollar question
Nature- Can California transform the way stem cell research is funded?
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In a New Climate Model, Short-term Cooling in a Warmer World
NY Times- Climatologists are beginning to create decade-long forecasts for the climate.
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Report Slams U.S. Food Safety System
Washington Post- A new report finds that the current system that guarantees food safety in the US is in a state of crisis.
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Nuclear’s CO2 cost ‘will climb’
BBC- The case for nuclear power as a low carbon energy source has been challenged in a new report.
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America’s Most Polluted Cities Revealed
ABC News- Pittsburgh beats out Los Angeles as city with worst air pollution.
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Whale Protection Caught in Agency Rivalry, Files Show
NY Times- A federal plan to protect endangered whales along the East Coast has been caught in interagency warfare and held in limbo by the White House.
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More must be done on intellectual-property protection
The Hill- Reps. John Conyer and Lamar Smith on the need to protect intellectual-property rights.
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Politicos ponder new action against e-waste
CNet News- Some members of Congress are focusing attention on how to manage electronics waste.
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McCain Health Plan Could Mean Higher Tax
NY Times- McCain’s campaign has acknowledged that McCain’s health plan would increase taxes for workers with high incomes and expensive health plans.
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FAA Overhaul Legislation Encounters Senate Delays
Wall Street Journal- Debate over airline pension plans and oil prices are complicating efforts to pass legislation to overhaul how the government regulates aviation safety.
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House to approve anti-genetic discrimination bill
WTOP News- The House is scheduled to vote on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act today. It was passed by the House last, but the Senate amended the bill before passing it last week.
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