Political Quotes

Thomas Foley: “Mr. Chairman, obviously, the National Science Foundation does not get it. The U.S. taxpayer should not be funding…”

On the recordJuly 29, 1998
Mr. Chairman, obviously, the National Science Foundation does not get it. The U.S. taxpayer should not be funding research that has dubious scientific merit, at best. This is why we should support the Sanford amendment. We need to send a strong message not only to the National Science Foundation, folks, this is not just about one agency. This is about every agency that determines how to use its Federal dollars. Now, I got a very nice letter back from the Office of the Assistant Director for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences trying to justify that this was a very important study. I still would ask my colleagues to ask every American taxpayer at home, do they think we should spend $107,000 to find out why people laugh at dirty jokes? I would say no.
Said by
Thomas Foley
Washington

Editor's note · Context

Addressing concerns about funding for research by the National Science Foundation.

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