congress not forking up money for ARES

[holmec]

Arcticle:<br />http://www.space.com/news/070131_nasa_budget.html<br /><br />"The joint resolution that cleared the House Appropriations Committee Jan. 30 provides no increase for NASA over its 2006 budget of $16.2 billion. NASA had been seeking $16.79 billion for 2007, but the agency’s budget request was tossed out when Congress decided late last year to scrap all spending bills left unfinished at the end of the last legislative session and instead fund most agencies at their 2006 levels.<br /><br />At least 40 lawmakers had made a plea to give NASA its full 2007 request in order to keep the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and Ares 1 rocket programs on track. But the House Appropriations Committee ignored those pleas, giving NASA no top-line increase and also denying the agency the flexibility it was seeking in terms of how to spend the money it receives." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[mooware]

Well, can't say it's a surprise.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">the House Appropriations Committee...</font>/i><br /><br />Have to keep an eye out for what comes out of the Senate's appropriation committee, and then what comes out of the joint conference. There is still a long ways to go.<br /><br />What concerns me more is the line:<br /> /> <i><font color="yellow"> denying the agency the flexibility it was seeking in terms of how to spend the money it receive</font>/i><br /><br />I suspect Democrats are going to get pegged with the same earmarking/pork barrel complaints that haunted the Republicans towards the end of their last run. "You will spend this money, and you will spend it here on my favorite company or in my district."</i></i>

 

[trailrider]

See my comment on the other thread... <br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra!

 

[halman]

holmec,<br /><br />Unfortunately, the last Congress did not do its job, part of which is deciding how much to budget for various activities and programs. To keep the government operating, short term spending bills have been repeatedly passed, which delayed the budgetary process. Upon being seated, the new Congress was faced with a deadline only a few weeks away to solve the budget crisis. Unwilling to get bogged down in arguments over correct spending levels, this Congress decided to simply enact a budget which is identical to last year's so that it can move on to new business.<br /><br />The budget was supposed to have been passed by the end of last October. Even with a majority, the Republicans could not come up with a budget which would pass muster. So, instead of conceding that their goals were unrealistic, they just kept putting off the decision. The new Congress could have been tied up until next October trying to write a budget for 2007, when they must have a budget for 2008 ready by October.<br /><br />However, all is not lost. Additional, or supplemental, budgets get passed all the time, (this is how the Iraq police action has been funded,) and there is still a chance that NASA will get the money that it needs. However, an avalanche of letters reminding Congressional leaders of those needs would make such a deliverance far more likely.<br /><br />Write to your congressional delegation, and tell them that space is an essential part of our future! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[dreada5]

halman, hope you're right.