Zoe Lofgren: “Catering to the Religious Right,'' that is the tagline the editors at the San Jose Mercury News used to introduce its…”

“Catering to the Religious Right,'' that is the tagline the editors at the San Jose Mercury News used to introduce its March 15 editorial and cartoon regarding President Bush's science policy. The editorial outlined the Bush administration's distortion and censorship of scientific research. On global warming, stem cell research, drinking water and air, women's health, the Bush administration has overlooked proven scientific data to placate big business or the religious right. The Mercury News serves the largest media market in Northern California and is read by millions of people around the world, and I thought that the Members of the House should also see this editorial which was to become part of my ``Dear Colleague'' letter last week. Unbelievably, the Republican staff of the Committee on House Administration vetoed the letter as too political. They came to this conclusion without consulting the Democratic staff. Readers of a newspaper of general circulation can read the truth, but not the elected Members of the House of Representatives. Should we be surprised? Republicans in the White House are censoring scientists; apparently the Republican majority in this House is following that pattern. Republicans may be able to stop me from sending a letter, but they cannot stop me from speaking on the floor.”