piner@pur-phy.UUCP (Richard Piner) (12/14/85)
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 1985 3:39 PM EST Msg: QGIF-2136-7814 From: RPARK To: WHATSNEW CC: RPark Subj: What's New WHAT'S NEW, Friday, December 13, 1985 Washington, D.C. 1. RECISION is a word that spends most of its time just taking up space in the dictionary, but a lot of researchers may be learning to spell it in the next few weeks. As passed by Congress, the Gramm-Rudman deficit reduction plan is retroactive. Just where the cuts will fall should become clear in the next ten days, but so few controllables are left that programs such as basic research and student loans are likely to be abruptly curtailed. 2. PORK-BARREL FUNDING OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FACILITIES flourishes in the midst of austerity. Senator Proxmire (D-WI) together with Senator Danforth (R-MO) attempted to delete $12 million earmarked for a computer facility at Syracuse from the DARPA budget (What's New, November 8). As Proxmire noted, the facility was not based on any competitive award, it has not been subject to peer review and it distorts the national system of allocating federal research dollars according to merit based criteria. He further noted that the purpose of the earmarking was to support the re-election of Senator D'Amato (R-NY). Proxmire was answered by Senator Stevens (R-Alaska) who praised D'Amato for his courage in the face of criticism from the academic and scientific communities. Sympathetic to a brave colleague in a time of need, the Senate upheld the Syracuse project by a two-to-one vote. 3. EXPANDED USE OF POLYGRAPH TESTING of administration officials is authorized by the President in a classified National Security Decision Directive (see also, What's New, July 5). The President first attempted to impose such expanded controls with NSDD 84, issued two years ago after an embarrassing series of leaks to the press. Strong criticism of NSDD 84 by Congress persuaded the President to withhold its implementation. In an apparent effort to avoid such criticism, the new directive was issued in classified form--but it was immediately leaked to the press. 4. THE ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the principle that unrestricted access to and dissemination of ideas are fundamental to a democratic society. This statement was motivated by concern that recent actions of the federal government have served to undermine the principle of open access. They note that the dynamic development of computing communications and storage technologies is resulting in a set of established systems that bring risks of constraints along with promises of efficiency. 5. THE POSITION OF SCIENCE ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT will apparently be filled on an interim basis by NSF Director Erich Bloch (What's New, December 6). No official announcement has been made. Robert L. Park (202) 429-1946 American Physical Society THAT'S ALL 12/13/85