The news waves have been exploding recently with a story on a congressional bill that prevents scientists from providing their expert opinion on matters of public interest. As reported by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)in the congressional blog The Hill, the Secret Science Act of 2014 prevents the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from “relying on scientific studies that involve personal health information or other data that is legally protected from public disclosure”. Essentially, this law will mean that scientists will not be able to advise the government in areas relating to their own scientific expertise due to the potential conflict of interest involved. On the other hand, experts that are paid by corporations will have a say in matters of legal policy pertaining to their particular area of interest.
In an article written on Roll Call, Dr. Andrew A. Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, complains that the “Secret Science Bill” will actually grind the activities of the EPA’s scientific advisory board (SAB) to a screeching halt. SABs traditionally have good checks in place to ensure that their advice is unbiased and that any conflicts of interest are disclosed up front. The new bill will impose a huge amount of red tape onto this process which will ultimately result in tying the hands of the very scientists who are meant to represent the best interest of the public.
As mentioned by Rep. Johnson:
These bills are the culmination of one of the most anti-science and anti-health campaigns I’ve witnessed in my 22 years as a member of Congress
Do you believe that the current government is anti-science or are they simply ensuring that all sides, (corporate and public), are represented fairly in matters affecting public interest?
