James Dupree | Washington Insider | July 21, 2011
Washington Insider discussed the amendments to the 2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill including one submitted by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) to re-establish OTA:
AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2551:
SEC. 211. There is appropriated, for salaries and expenses of the Office of Technology Assessment as authorized by the Technology Assessment Act of 1972 (2 U.S.C.471 et seq.), hereby derived from the amount provided in this Act for the payment to the House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund, $2,500,000.
According to Climate Science Watch blog Michael Halpern of the Union of Concerned Scientists, as well as a number of other scientific, transparency, public health, and public interest groups, urged members to support Holt’s amendment.
The ASBMB Policy Blotter blog post pointed out that that OTA “was a leader in practicing and encouraging delivery of public services in innovative and inexpensive ways.”
The amendment was voted down 176 to 235. The results of the roll call vote can be seen here.