I'm a bit disappointed in the Planetary Society for getting behind the so-called "CRomnibus" bill. The CRomnibus is a bill necessary to continue funding the Federal government for the next year. Here's how it works: the President requests funds to be made available in line with the budget, Congress either funds or defunds projects with the continuing resolution (CR).
The Planetary Society wants it to pass, because NASA comes out well ahead compared to what the President requested. For example: the much-hyped Europa Clipper mission was funded at $118 million, well above the $15 million requested by the President for "mission studies". For a single-issue lobbying group like the Planetary Society, it's an amazing deal.
But there's also some glaring drawbacks to the CRomnibus package as it currently stands. The major lowlights:
- The bill loosens EPA restrictions on agricultural runoff. These restrictions deal with the amount of animal waste, pesiticides, fertilizers, and farm silt that are allowed to contaminate surface water sources. In addition, the EPA's funding has been slashed by $60 million dollars, down nearly 20% from 2010 funding levels.
- One of the key provisions of the post-2008 financial crisis bill (Dodd-Frank) prevented FDIC-insured entities from trading financial derivatives, such as mortgage-backed securities (of which sub-prime mortgages are one type). The CRomnibus would repeal this restriction, in effect allowing banks to gamble with taxpayer money yet again.
While the repeal of that rule was offset by increasing the budget of the agency charged with overseeing derivatives trading, it's still well below what's needed for the agency to actually perform its duties.
- The CRomnibus cuts nearly $300 million from the Pell Grant program, and uses that money to fund organizations that collect student loan debts on behalf of the Federal government. Although the Pell Grants are currently running a surplus, just keeping the budget steady will mean that it begins showing a deficit by 2017.
- Individual contribution limits to major political parties were lifted by an order of magnitude, from $32,400 to $324,000.
Some other less significant, but petty provisions in the CRomnibus
- The bill prohibits the IRS from investigating the ideologies of organizations seeking tax-exempt status. Out of context, that sounds fine, but it comes in the wake of the IRS investigating Tea Party groups as they attempted to apply for tax exemption as non-political non-profits.
- Libya is barred from receiving foreign aid until the Secretary of State confirms that the country is cooperating with investigations into the 2012 Benghazi embassy attack.
- The Federal government is prohibited from spending money in the ongoing renovations in the UN building in New York City.
- Prohibiting Washington DC from implementing the voter initiative legalizing marijuana.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service is barred from adding the rare sage grouse to the threatened or endangered species list, congressional Republicans citing it "would have severe economic consequences on Western states and the nation’s efforts to become energy independent."
- Would cut funding for the Palestinian Authority if it seeks UN recognition of statehood without the approval of Israel.
I understand the position that the Planetary Society is in. If they don't support the CRomnibus, there's a possibility that they may not be able to see the same benefits for NASA in a reworking of the bill. However, on the other hand, it means throwing support behind a budget with severe drawbacks.
Is going to Europa worth further deregulation of Wall Street, degradation of the environment, and defunding of education for the disadvantaged? Personally, I don't think so.
