On July 31, Joe Barton wrote an editorial for the Dallas Morning News about his investigation of scientists reporting that human activity has caused global warming. In the editorial, he slammed New York Republican Sherwood Boehlert (House Science Committee chairman), saying that Boehlert and Henry Waxman "consider me a bull in their china closet" and wish Barton would "butt out."
(see Joe Barton: How bad is global warming? Congress and taxpayers have every right to learn the facts behind the science, Dallas Morning News, Sunday, July 31, 2005)
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/080105dnedibarton.7b0a5fb.htmlToday, Representative Boehlert wrote a letter to the editor in rebuttal to Barton's editorial:
(See "Barton's Pursuit,"
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/081505dnedimonletters.753c4bb.html)
Excerpt:
"First, no one is suggesting that anyone "butt out." Congress has an obligation to understand the ongoing scientific work on climate change, and it has many ways of doing so, including open and balanced hearings. That's something the Energy and Commerce Committee has failed to do.
"Instead of trying to understand the science, the committee has gone on the attack. It has made three scientists, whose views it apparently doesn't like, the target of a congressional investigation.
(snip)
"What this is all about is a threat to the open pursuit of science. Are scientists going to be investigated any time they reach a conclusion that troubles a politician?"
If you'd like to send a big thank you to Sherwood Boehlert for standing up to Joe "Smokey Joe" Barton, send your comments to his submission box
http://www.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep.