EDITOR'S CHOICE -- SCOTT SUTTELL
Researchers become lobbyists to convince D.C. to spend on science
Blog entry: February 1, 2012, 11:52 am | Author: SCOTT SUTTELL
University researchers “have come under growing pressure to help convince policy makers of the importance of spending on science” as the federal budget tightens, and now they “may get drafted to lobby legislators,” according to a Chronicle of Higher Education story that quotes a Case Western Reserve University professor. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, a coalition of biomedical-research associations, “is planning a program in which it will recruit researchers to help its budget lobbyists,” the newspaper reports. “In the program, called Stand Up for Science, the federation plans to find researchers in districts where members of Congress have been reluctant to support federal spending on research,” The Chronicle of Higher Education notes. “Then it will ask the researchers to get friendlier with the lawmakers.”
The paper says the group for years “has been asking researchers to help make clear to lawmakers the importance of research spending.” But those efforts have had limited success, says the group's current president, Joseph C. LaManna, a professor of neurology, physiology and biophysics at CWRU's School of Medicine.
After years of declining or flat budgets at the National Institutes of Health, the federation is “seeking a more aggressive approach to its legislative outreach strategies,” Mr. LaManna said this week at a news briefing.
"These efforts are desperately needed, and we will rise to the challenge," Mr. LaManna said.
The newspaper notes that the plan “will involve identifying lawmakers whose support for federal research spending could be critical on a particular vote, and then asking university researchers in that member's district to take steps that include inviting the lawmaker to the campus to get a stronger sense of the science and how it benefits the community.”
Political potpourri
On to November: Florida's old news now in the political world. Ohio's hot today in the national media.
Fortune weighs in with an analysis of President Barack Obama's strategy for winning Ohio this fall after carrying it narrowly in 2008 — and then seeing Republicans sweep into state office in 2010.
The campaign “is aiming to make its argument (in Ohio) by pointing to the president's role in saving the American auto industry,” Fortune says. “His bet on taxpayer dollars to restructure Chrysler and General Motors looks to have paid off, and the rebirth of the car companies is helping the state's turnaround outstrip the nation's overall.”
The campaign thinks it can take that message beyond traditionally Democratic northern Ohio into other parts of the state.
Gov. John Kasich, not surprisingly, is skeptical the Obama campaign's strategy will bear fruit. "They're not going to do well down (in southern Ohio), I don't care what they say," he tells Fortune. "There is a great energy in those areas to get the President out. It may not have that much to do with who the nominee is — they just want him out."
Time to step up his game: Politico's monthly assessment of 2012 Senate races raises some caution flags for Republicans excited about the likely race between state Treasurer Josh Mandel and the incumbent Democrat, Sen. Sherrod Brown.
The website this month ranks it as the 10th most competitive contest, down from 7th in January, and cites a Quinnipiac University poll that has Sen. Brown leading 47% to 32%.
“Sen. Sherrod Brown skipped a visit by President Obama at the start of the month, but Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel earned tougher press for his absence from 13 Board of Deposit meetings,” according to Politico.
Even before that, the website notes, The Associated Press “reported on Mandel's overwhelming focus on his Senate bid, noting that ‘he's yet to hold a single news conference to discuss the work he's doing for Ohioans.' He's not exactly getting out front on burning issues either, offering a ‘no opinion' when asked about Gov. John Kasich's moratorium on well-drilling.”
No. 3 for the No. 2 slot: Ohio's freshman U.S. Senator, Rob Portman, remains a favorite as a possible Republican vice presidential candidate.
National Journal ranks Sen. Portman in the “top tier” of possibilities, behind U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
“Just a year into his first term, Portman is already a serious player in the Senate Republican Conference, and his experience in government gives him a gravitas few other candidates could match,” National Journal says. “His sizable winning percentage last year in swing state Ohio only adds to his appeal. He's not the most charismatic politician, but Portman would be a safe choice for Romney's team.”
Dog days
Ohioans are playing a big role in breaking down agility contest barriers for small dogs.
So says The Wall Street Journal in a charming feature on the people who want Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and others to experience the thrill of athletic competition.
Bud Houston, a trainer in Marietta aware of the special needs of diminutive dogs, formed the Teacup Dogs Agility Association for dogs measuring 17 inches and under, the newspaper notes.
"It's not a matter of fairness, it's a matter of appropriateness," Mr. Houston says.
The Journal says the big event for the association, which has more than 2,000 registered dogs, is the Petit Prix, with events designed specifically for small dogs.
"Older dogs don't have the pep," says Joan Kimmel of Cleveland, whose 8-year-old dachshund, Schilling, has competed in three Petit Prix.
The paper notes that Schilling “recently won the weave pole challenge, by slowly but perfectly traversing through 24 poles and beating out younger dogs that flew through the course leaving toppled poles in their wake.”
Indeed, "Sometimes steady wins the race," Ms. Kimmel says. She tells The Journal she has competed in other agility events for dogs of all sizes but prefers teacup tournaments.
You also can follow me on Twitter for more news about business and Northeast Ohio.
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