House votes to retard science funding boost

Chronicle : The US House of Representatives has voted 292 to 126 to support a package of Republican amendments to the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act of 2007. The COMPETES act called for a doubling of funding for basic research within seven years. Under the amendment package, that target has receded 10 years into the future. Last week’s vote on the act, like all its predecessors, authorized spending on the act’s programs but has yet to include the necessary money in an appropriations bill.