🚀 go-pugleaf

Here's the first of three more notes on the NSF buget.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Cassell                                        jwcassell@UNC.EDU
Institute for Research in Social Science           Phone:  919-962-0782
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill           Fax:    919-962-4777
Chapel Hill, NC  27599-3355   USA

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 11:36:31 -0400
From: Richard Andrews <andrewsr@email.unc.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <irssann@gibbs.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: Further commentary on social science budget issues

Here is one response to the recently distributed memo on Congressional
budget threats to social science research at NSF.  The author is on the
staff of AAAS, and follows Congressional decisions about science closely.
Others to follow.

pete_andrews@unc.edu

______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________
Subject: Rep. Walker's Comments on NSF Budget
Author:  ATEICH at AAAS
Date:    5/17/95 10:03 PM

          While it is gratifying to see the STS and social science
          communities mobilize in response to a perceived threat to
          NSF funding in social and behavioral sciences and related
          areas, I am concerned that much of the reaction is based on
          a misunderstanding of recent congressional statements.

          In his press conference last week, Chairman Walker of the
          House Science Committee made some disparaging and, in my
          opinion, unwarranted comments about the place of the social
          and behavioral sciences in NSF.  He said that these areas
          would be excluded from the 3% a year growth projected for
          NSF research overall contained in the House Budget
          Committee's plan.  He did NOT say they were targeted for
          elimination or severe cuts.

          While excluding SBER from the projected growth is not in any
          sense desirable, it is a much different scenario than
          termination.  Since the termination story has gained wide
          currency, I have checked with top officials of NSF and with
          the staff director of the subcommittee of Walker's committee
          that is responsible for NSF's authorization.  Both confirm
          my interpretation.

          Al Teich
          AAAS Science and Policy Programs