A look at today’s science and health policy news:
Obama calls for ‘clean energy’ nation
Politico– Obama on Monday called reducing the nation’s energy consumption “the great test of our time” and proposed billions of dollars in subsidies for business and consumers to encourage a “clean energy “ future
GOP lawmakers protest recess, which left energy plan hanging
Austin American-Statesman– The Republicans want Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to call the House back into session from its five-week August break to vote on a bill that includes provisions for more domestic oil drilling.
Senate Approves Cyber-crime Bill
eWeek– Identity theft victims can seek restitution in federal courts, thanks to a cyber-crime bill passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. The bill also increases cyber-crime penalties and add cyber-extortion to the list of federal crimes.
Bill would increase oversight of federal IT projects
NextGov– A bipartisan bill introduced last week would require agencies to report to Congress when information technology projects are behind schedule or over budget, and would create a strike force within the Office of Management and Budget to help struggling endeavors.
Lawmakers Closely Watching Funding for Digital TV Transition
CQ– Facing an uncertain appropriations picture, lawmakers concerned about the impending digital television transition are eager to ensure the agencies involved in the February 2009 switch have enough money to do their jobs.
U.S. is losing education race with China
Newsday– We produce 70,000 engineers a year. Official records say that China produces 650,000. American experts don’t necessarily believe that, but even their revised figure, 350,000, shows a huge difference.
School budgeting by ‘65% solution’ more popular in South
USA Today– The idea is to require schools to spend 65% of their budgets on classroom expenses as opposed to administrative costs. It’s been pushed for three years but has sputtered nationally, with only Georgia and Texas adopting it.
Environmental groups faltered this year
Politico– Former Vice President Al Gore may have made global warming a household term, but this year’s tactical mistakes by the green army may have set the cause back just when it seemed to be on the brink of a legislative breakthrough. While pushing for sharp emission reductions, a number of environmental groups failed to adapt their pitch to acknowledge rising energy costs, experts say, leaving voters to believe that saving the planet will mean unaffordable energy prices.
Coal’s future is safe - but what about the climate?
Reuters– Does coal have a future? Climate change protesters and coal traders alike say it’s a daft question, but agreement ends there.
Clinton Urges More AIDS Efforts
San Francisco Chronicle– Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, fresh from a tour of his foundation’s projects in Africa, took the stage of the International AIDS Conference to tell thousands that “we must do more.”
FDA strengthens policy on vetting of advisers
L.A. Times– The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that it will look more closely at conflicts of interest when screening potential members of the influential expert committees that advise the agency on the approval of drugs.
Millions With Chronic Disease Get Little to No Treatment
N.Y. Times– Millions of Americans with chronic disease like diabetes or high blood pressure are not getting adequate treatment because they are among the nation’s growing ranks of uninsured.
