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The 2006 US Midterm Elections and Science & Technology Policy Print E-mail

bridges vol. 12, December 2006 / Pielke's Perspective

by Roger A. Pielke, Jr.


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Pielke_R_new_SMALL The 2006 United States midterm (i.e., between presidential) elections are historic, leading to only the second time in more than 50 years that control of the US House of Representatives will be handed over from one party to the other. The other change in majority occurred following the 1994 midterm elections which ended almost four decades of Democratic control of the House. In addition, the 2006 elections ended four years of unified Republican control of the US presidency and Congress, a situation which last occurred from 1953 to 1955. In the context of the war in Iraq and the looming 2008 presidential contest, the 2006 elections represent a major shift in US politics. But what, if anything, might they mean for issues of science and technology?


To be fair, I should note that I had the opportunity to work for a short time for the Democrats in 1991 on the staff of the House Science Committee under Congressman George Brown (D-CA). Seeing what happened to many of my friends and former colleagues when control of the House changed over in 1994 left a sour taste in my mouth, not simply for the Republicans led by Newt Gingrich (R-GA) who assumed power in 1995, but more generally for the arrogance of excessive political partisanship. I believe that the seeds of the current Republican loss are found not simply in the current policies of the Bush Administration (although, to be sure, this plays a big part), but more deeply in how Republicans have managed the Congress since 1994. With that "full disclosure" out of the way, here are some thoughts about the upcoming 110th Congress.

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