Topic: Scientists say White House muzzled them

[Orstio]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061102/ap_on_go_co/global_warming

WASHINGTON - Two federal agencies are investigating whether the Bush administration tried to block government scientists from speaking freely about global warming and censor their research, a senator said Wednesday.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg D-N.J., said he was informed that the inspectors general for the       Commerce Department and NASA had begun "coordinated, sweeping investigations of the Bush administration's censorship and suppression" of federal research into global warming.

"These investigations are critical because the Republicans in Congress have ignored this serious problem," Lautenberg said.

He said the investigations "will uncover internal documents and agency correspondence that may expose widespread misconduct." He added, "Taxpayers do not fund scientific research so the Bush White House can alter it."

Messages left Wednesday at the offices of the inspectors general, which serve as the agencies' internal watchdogs, were not immediately returned.

[Retrospector]

Well it's good that, with the results of the recent election, the Congress appears poised to once again take up its role of oversight of federal departments and agencies.

It's not that scientists should become embroiled in politics or that they should have the final say about issues like global warming. But if their findings have been suppressed because of the Administration's political agenda, that is outrageous.