Economic Research Suffers in Bush Proposed Budget
by Matthew Madia, 3/21/2007
A report by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) points out President Bush's budget request proposes a cut in funding devoted to economic research at EPA. In this case, the research is needed to develop cost-benefit analyses which in turn are needed to promulgate regulations. The proposed budget calls for a 58 percent cut in funding for what the report calls "Economics and Decision Sciences."
EPA would consolidate offices and personnel to accomplish the cut. From the report:
SAB is concerned that consolidation might actually decrease the amount of economics research at EPA and also impede the development of a high quality research portfolio in behavioral social and decision sciences.
The White House consistently claims that economic factors should be paramount in the regulatory process, but this proposed cut belies their rhetoric. President Bush is not concerned with how regulations might improve the economic standing of the American people. He is only concerned with delaying regulations so that corporate interests will benefit.
