This isn't a subject I blog much about any more...after all, the "war on science" argument that I helped originate has now been made in such an ad nauseum way that it has become more or less conventional wisdom. However, it's still worth noting when a great new piece of evidence emerges showing just how bad the administration has been when it comes to science. In this case, that evidence comes from the Environmental Protection Agency. Not surprisingly, the EPA's staff unions are withdrawing from their cooperation agreement with the agency's political leadership. And what is their cited reason? Well, let us quote some of the complaints (PDF):
"EPA boasts of the Principles of Scientific Integrity before the Congress and the public as an example of EPA's dedication to using only good science in its decision making, but refuses to agree to an adjudication process for resolving disputes arising from alleged violations of the PSI." "...EPA ignores the advice of its Labor Union Coalition and its own Principles of Scientific Integrity whenever political direction from other federal entities or private sector interests so direct. Examples include fluoride drinking water standards, organophosphate pesticide registration, control of mercury emissions from power plants, and requests for waivers to allow States to more stringently control greenhouse gases."
The letter I'm quoting comes from unions that collectively represent over 10,000 EPA employees--and of course, a lot of those are scientists. So this is pretty convincing evidence that a vast number of agency scientists believe that EPA has lost any claim whatsoever to scientific integrity.
