Bush's Reply to Kerry

Here is Bush's Reply. Bush refers to all federal R&D funding, not just NSF's research budget. On broadband, he focuses on the 93 percent of zip code figure, rather than the 13th in the world percentage of broadband penetration.

The Facts Kerry Ignores On Scientific Research

President Bush Has Increased Support For Science More Than Any Other President. President Bush has increased Federal R&D funding by 44 percent to $132 billion in 2005 including an all-time high of $26.8 billion for basic research. He has doubled the budget for the National Institutes of Health, increased funding for NSF by 30 percent, and increased support for nanotechnology research by 88 percent. President Bush is the first president to invest in embryonic stem cell research including a recent 132 percent increase to $24.8 million with an additional $190.7 million for non-embryonic stem cell research. To make research more affordable, President Bush believes the R&D Tax Credit should be made permanent. ("Bush Administration Science and Technology Accomplishments," OSTP, 4/04)

Science Is A Budget Priority. The President commits 13.5 percent of the total discretionary spending to research and development -- the highest level in 37 years. Not since 1968 and the Apollo program have we seen an investment in science of this magnitude.

Focus On Basic Research. The President's 2005 budget requests an all-time high of $26.8 billion for basic research representing a 26 percent increase from 2001.

The Facts Kerry Ignores On Broadband Development

President Bush Has Provided Over $2 Billion In Telecommunication Funding Which Has Provided One Million Rural Homes And Businesses With Access To Broadband Connections. Over 93 percent of zip codes have broadband access and 99 percent of the country's population lives in a zip code where a provider reports having at least one high-speed service subscriber. (USDA, "USDA Announces $9.5 Million Broadband Loan To Expand Access To Broadband Technology In Rural Oregon," Press Release, 8/19/04; FCC, Industry Analysis And Technology Division, High Speed Services For Internet Access, Status As Of June 30, 2003, 12/03)

Kerry's Speech on Bush Administration and Science

Here's the test from John Kerry's speech in Dayton where he rags on Bush over innovation:

From nanotechnology to artificial intelligence, we know where the next generation of high-paying jobs will come from: jobs that pay, on average, 70 percent more than other jobs. Yet, George Bush has been so obsessed with cutting taxes for the wealthy that our investments in creating those jobs are dying on the vine.

This President has proposed cutting the National Science Foundation budget for research and development, cutting the EPA research budget, and cutting the Veteran’s Affairs research budget. He’s proposed cutting the Manufacturing Extension Program that business uses to develop new processes by 90 percent. This week, we learned that America has fallen to 13th in the world in broadband coverage. Broadband is critical to our long-term growth, but this president has proposed cutting the Agriculture Department’s Rural Broadband budget, which brings the internet to America’s small towns and rural communities.

He followed this up with the laugh line that got all the quotes in today's papers:

You get the feeling that if George Bush had been President during other periods in American history, he would have sided with the candle lobby against electricity, the buggy-makers against cars, and typewriter companies against computers

FCC Chairman Surveys Broadband Over Power Line

At a demonstration on Tuesday in Manassas, Va., FCC Chairman Michael Powell surveys the broadband over power line (BPL) technology of Main.Net, as deployed and services by ComTEK. On Thursday, the FCC approved an order easing the way for more widespread BPL systems.