Scientists Now Need OK to Consult WHO

[cosmicone]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040625/ap_on_sc/government_scientists_2

Scientists Now Need OK to Consult WHO

Fri Jun 25, 5:05 PM ET Add Science - AP to My Yahoo!


By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Government scientists must now be cleared by a Bush political appointee before they can lend their expertise to the World Health Organization (news - web sites), a change that a Democratic lawmaker said fits a pattern of politicizing science.

William Steiger, a special assistant to Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson, said in an April letter that WHO can no longer pick specific government experts to serve as consultants.

The practice, which has been in place during several administrations, "has not always resulted in the most appropriate selections," Steiger said.

Instead, Steiger's Office of Global Health Affairs now will choose "an appropriate expert who can best serve both of our organizations," he said. HHS experts made available also must advocate U.S. government policies, Steiger said. He came to Washington with Thompson, Wisconsin's governor until President Bush appointed him to lead HHS in 2001.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., a frequent administration critic, said Friday it was the latest in a series of actions that in his view contradict the open search for scientific and medical evidence. "It appears to me that the administration is tightening their controls over their professionals and their scientists ... to favor its right-wing constituents," Waxman said.

He asked Thompson in a letter to rescind the policy, which Waxman said "politicizes the process of providing the expert advice of U.S. scientists to the international community."

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This is the worst kind of political control of science!

[Donkeyboy75]

1. I'm not sure it's the worst kind, but it's getting there.

I'm seriously waiting for NSF and NIH funding to be withheld unless the scientist applying for the grant toes the party line. That would be the worst. These fucking hacks in the White House are setting science back with every move they make. Don't be surprised to see an exodus.

[frustrated_lefty]

7. Our plans are already set.

This new set of nonsense on top of the already stifling limitations on stem cell research...

It doesn't matter who wins in '04, a country that could let this kind of crap happen is not one in which I will allow my children to grow up.

[Donkeyboy75]

10. I'm actually a scientist, and moving to Ireland in two months

to get away from this crap.

[donsu]

2. this is criminal

scientific endeavors in america are degrading by the design of the criminal bushgang.

scientists are not using their power to stop the degradation.

why?

[xxqqqzme]

3. somebody again remind me

how this isn't like '30s Germany?

[Coventina]

4. UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!!!!!!

Hello thought police!!!!!

[Kimber Scott]

5. The Middle-East was once a bastion of math, science and ideas.

Until the religious ideologues decided to hold back their progress in the name of Allah. Is this what we are headed for? Thank God and Allah our leadership must change, at least, every eight years. But, four years is enough of this bullshit.

[salin]

6. These zealots have got to go.

It is as if they are intent to put human life at risk in nearly every corner of govt policy.

[gatlingforme]

8. Bushes agenda is getting real close to a regime. I can't stand

this BS. WHO is going to lose big time with this

[struggle4progress]

9. Disgraceful. eom