Ignoring science: Not just for Republicans anymore!

Michigan gov. follows Gingrich's example, kills science advisory board

Posted by JMG (Guest Contributor) at 6:17 PM on 26 Aug 2007

Read more about: Michigan | state politics | legislation | politics | Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich, claiming a mandate to make government smaller, actually managed to abolish only two offices: the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA).

The OTA was a widely praised, nonpartisan board that helped Congress understand and deal with technical issues -- exactly the kind of office you don't need if you get your understanding of biology from Genesis, your thoughts on telecommunications from K Street, and your opinions on energy from Exxon. The OTA was probably one of the least-known but best performing offices in all of D.C.

Oddly, Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan just killed the Michigan Environmental Science Board, which was composed of volunteer scientists appointed by the Governor. The only cost to the state was for member travel when on assignment, and for preparation and distribution of reports.

Here are the reports prepared by the MESB over the years:

(2007) Executive Order 2007-21
(2003) Critical Review of a Proposed List of Toxic Substances to Biomonitor in Michigan Residents
(2002) Critical Review of a Ballast Water Biocides Treatment Demonstration Project Using Copper and Sodium Hypochlorite
(2001) Recommended Environmental Indicators Program for the State of Michigan
(2001) Evaluation of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Generic Groundwater and Soil Volitization to Indoor Air Inhalation Criteria
(2000) Health Effects of Low-Level Hydrogen Sulfide in Ambient Air
(2000) Analysis of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Administered Environmental Standards to Protect Children's Health
(1999) Evaluation of the Use of Sonar® in Michigan
(1999) Evaluation of the Risk of Cancer among Fire Fighters
(1998) Evaluation of Michigan's Proposed 1998 Fish Advisory Program
(1997) Evaluation of Directional Drilling under the Great Lakes
(1997) Evaluation of Air Quality and Human Health Issues involving Particulate Matter and Ozone
(1997) Impact of New PCB Information on 1995 MESB -- Council of Great Lakes Governors Special Fish Advisory Report
(1996) Evaluation of Michigan's Low-Level Radioactive Waste Isolation Facility Siting Criteria
(1995) Critical Review of a Proposed Uniform Great Lakes Fish Advisory Protocol
(1995) The Impacts of Lead in Michigan
(1994) Report on Bacteriological and Macrophyte Contamination of Lake St. Clair
(1994) Impacts of Chlorine Use on Environmental and Public Health
(1993) Mercury in Michigan's Environment: Environmental and Human Health Concerns PDF icon

For story: Ignoring science: Not just for Republicans anymore!
8 Comments | Post a Comment

Mind the gap!

Notice that since the MESB was established in 1993, there has been at least one report submitted every year, and usually two or three, until 2003. After that, nothing. So what happened in 2003 to shut them down?

From the little that I have read about her, Jennifer Granholm seems to be an intelligent and competent governor. It would be very likely for her to act in the style of Newt Gingrich. Surely this story is considerably more complicated than the simple news of her ordering the board's termination.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 9:37 PM on 26 Aug 2007

They only worked on problems referred to them

Well, the MESB only worked on problems referred to them--they had no ability to insert themselves into an issue uninvited.

No, I'm afraid this seems more like dumb partisanship -- the rotund "King John" Engler (now head of the National Manufacturers Assn.) formed the board, so after Granholm got in in 2003, she had no use for it. Engler was truly an execrable Governor and he left the state in a financial shambles, with the appellate courts dominated by his appointees, with a terribly weakened and demoralized environmental agency reduced to begging business for some sort of common sense.

Still, it's possible for even mentally stopped clocks like Engler to get something right once in a while, and I think the MESB was it.

The 5% Project

by JMG at 9:51 PM on 26 Aug 2007

Rebuttal

You're criticizing a pro-science Democrat for eliminating a board set up by a Republican for the purposes of giving cover to junk science. Bad Gristmill.

http://www.michiganliberal.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9840

by ebaerren at 4:30 PM on 27 Aug 2007

Rerebuttal

So get rid of the hacks, don't kill the board. All the "pro-science" Governor was ratify the precedent of abolishing science boards that don't produce the desired results -- not a precedent that people who are "pro-science" should want followed.

And, having followed your link, I should make it clear that Gristmill did not criticize the Governor's decision to abolish the MESB, I did (JMG / Gristmill).

The 5% Project

by JMG at 4:58 PM on 27 Aug 2007

Erratum

that last parenthetical was supposed to be a NOT EQUALS sign, but it didn't come through

The 5% Project

by JMG at 4:59 PM on 27 Aug 2007

Whatever...

You (bleeped) up. The OTA and the MESB are not the same thing ... not even close. You didn't advocate replacing the hacks with good scientists, but you did suggest that our governor was just as bad as Newt for having abolished the thing.

So, sad.

by ebaerren at 5:46 PM on 27 Aug 2007

oops

Sorry, EBaerren. A crucial negative got left behind on the dock in my penultimate sentence. The intention was: It would be very UNlikely ... , or, It would NOT be very likely ...

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 11:34 PM on 27 Aug 2007

I took you at your meaning

Your intentions were pretty clear, and the internets can be a forgiving place.

by ebaerren at 5:05 AM on 28 Aug 2007
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