According to an AP report, Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), a former chairman of the House Science Committee, is seeking to become the ranking minority member of the committee. Sensenbrenner had served the last six years as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and because of internal term limits would have had to give up the position regardless of how the November election turned out. With Democrats taking control of Congress, Sensenbrenner had sought to stay on the committee as its ranking minority member, but was told by House Republican leadership that the same term limit provisions that would have ended his chairmanship even if Republicans had retained control also applied to the ranking member position.
Prior to chairing the Judiciary Committee, Sensenbrenner spent four years as chair of the House Science Committee, where he often cast a critical eye on the International Space Station project and Russia’s role in it. Sensenbrenner’s spokesman said that the congressman would indeed focus on NASA, as well as climate change and general oversight issues should he win the Science Committee post. He’ll have competition, though: two current committee members, Ralph Hall of Texas and Vern Ehlers of Michigan, are also interested in the post. The GOP is expected to make a recommendation next week.
I doubt that NASA will continue receiving the lapdog acquiescence it’s received over the last 1-2 years. Sensenbrenner has always been skeptical of NASA’s big programs. He is also a big advocate of commercial taking on a larger portion of the space role. This likely doesn’t bode well for NASA’s homegrown CLV efforts. However, it’s not the death of VSE. Perhaps it will usher in a more realistic interpretation and implementation.
I’m not sure I agree with you about all of Mr. Sensenbrenner’s opinions, but I would consider his return to be very good news. He has supported the VSE albeit with intelligent suggestions and criticism. While he is not of my party, I admire his intelligence, his willingness to question constructively, and his independence. He is the kind of politician we despirately need more of in both major political parties.
— Donald