First diary so forgive me...
This is the text of the e-mail sent out by the Union of Concerned Scientists regarding the recent Bush budget. This is a non-partisan group that works to bring responsible science to Washington.
Of particular interest, I think, is the information on the backdoor attempts to open up ANWR and the cuts to the Endangered Species program.
Entire letter below the fold...
The president's recently released budget request for fiscal year 2006 (FY06) takes advantage of the budget deficit to cut an number of important environmental programs and cynically fails to support several environmental initiatives the president has said he supports. While there are a few positive developments, overall the budget fails to provide our nation with the means to build a cleaner, more secure future.
Read the in-depth update online:
http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=3116155&l=79391
Go directly to our issues:
Clean Air and Climate Change
While the administration's budget includes some increases for wind and hydrogen energy, it cuts other forms of renewable energy research. The administration illustrates its misplaced priorities by continuing to heavily subsidize the polluting fossil fuel industry, while underfunding clean energy development, reducing energy efficiency programs, and undercutting NASA's climate change research.
http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=3116155&l=79392
Clean Vehicles
While hydrogen fuel cell vehicle research received significant funding, the president's plan lacks any incentives or requirements to produce hydrogen production from clean renewable technology. The focus on nuclear- and coal-based hydrogen sources conflicts with the environmental promise of hydrogen-based transportation.
While the budget request includes clean vehicle tax credits, opaque language leaves the door open for the credits to be used for vehicles that do not offer any real fuel efficiency or pollution reduction benefits. The Clean School Bus grant program received a disappointing drop in its request, but EPA funding for older diesel vehicle cleanup presents an opportunity to address some of the dirtiest vehicles currently in operation.
http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=3116155&l=79393
Food and Environment
The Bush administration's request slashes vital conservation and sustainable agriculture programs in FY06, as it has done in prior years. Overall, it calls for a 28 percent cut to USDA conservation programs, with some programs taking an even bigger hit. For example, the Conservation Security Program is cut by 58 percent. The budget reduces funding for sustainable agriculture research and education and completely eliminates two organic farming programs.
http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=3116155&l=79394
Global Environment
The Bush budget request includes money for leases on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge--a backdoor tactic to open up the refuge to drilling. The budget also cuts forest fire management funding that protects vital habitat, and cuts the already woefully underfunded Endangered Species Act by $3 million.
http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=3116155&l=79395
Global Security
The Defense budget is somewhat less bleak. The missile defense program budget was trimmed by $1 billion to $9.6 billion, but this ineffective and misguided program is still the single largest item in the defense bill. Our success in 2004 in eliminating funding for the nuclear bunker buster research pushed the administration to drop its funding request from $27 million last year to $8 million this year. Finally, the budget request increased funding to secure loose nuclear materials--a critical safeguard against nuclear terrorism.
http://www.ucsaction.org/ctt.asp?u=3116155&l=79396