R&D funding: Frist sets own plans

The atmosphere surrounding the federal research funding debate thickened last week as the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology & Space met to consider prospects for federal R&D. Sen . Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) chaired the hearing, joined only by ranking subcommittee member John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.). However, three other senators did appear as witness Underlying it all was the fate of S. 1305, a bill originally introduced by Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) and now cosponsored by 15 other senators that authorizes doubling the federal civilian R&D budget over 10 years. Joining Gramm in support of the bill at the hearing were Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.). A third backer, Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), submitted a statement. Domenici is a key figure because he heads the Senate Budget Committee, which places limits on federal spending. Current caps on spending to the year 2003 leave no room for much of an increase ...