GOP Lashes Out At USDA Funding For Research On How Climate Breakdown May Affect Farming - NYT

[hatrack]

House Republicans yesterday lashed out against the Obama administration's proposal to ramp up funding next year for research on the effects of global warming on farmers. The Agriculture Department's fiscal 2011 budget request includes a number of programs intended to address the potential impact climate change could have on farmers and ranchers. It would devote $52 million to climate change programs -- a relatively small piece of the $21.5 billion discretionary spending request.

But key Republicans in the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee latched onto those programs yesterday, indicating the array of climate programs across the administration's budget may be a target in the appropriations season. Climate programs were also a target at a separate hearing yesterday on the EPA budget (see related story).

Subcommittee ranking member Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) said the climate investment at USDA may be a waste -- noting concerns about the science behind global warming. "If global warming is real, then it is our biggest problem," said Kingston. "But it doesn't seem to be treated as science as much as policy."

Republicans and climate change skeptics have repeatedly called the science on global warming into question, especially after concerns late last year over leaked e-mails from climate scientists. The majority of climate scientists agree the planet is experiencing human-induced climate change.

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/02/25/25greenwire-republicans-bash-usdas-investment-in-climate-r-94722.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Farmers recognize the signs of climate change & how vulnerable

they are.... I'm betting this will backfire big time on the RETHUGS

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. See also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=232923&mesg_id=232923

[Dead_Parrot]

3. ...