Lamar Smith (Science-Denying Asshole - TX) Retiring, Finally

[hatrack]

US Representative Lamar Smith, the controversial chairman of the US House of Representatives’ science committee, will retire when his term expires late next year.

Smith, a Texas Republican, has repeatedly questioned the science behind climate change, sought to pare back the US National Science Foundation’s (NSF) research portfolio and has launched dozens of probes into alleged wrongdoing by individual scientists and US government science agencies. Since taking the helm in 2013, the politician has transformed the science panel from a relatively deliberative group into an investigative weapon.

Under the rules of the House of Representatives, which limit committee chairmanships to six years, Smith would have been forced to relinquish his post on the science panel in 2019. That is one of the reasons why he decided against running for re-election, according to news reports; the other is the upcoming birth of his second grandchild. As the news of his retirement made the rounds, many scientists and environmentalists celebrated.

EDIT

Smith has notably scrutinized the work of climate scientists. In 2015, Smith sought to compel the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to turn over internal documents related to a climate-change study. The research, published in Science in 20151, sought to dispel the idea that the rate of global warming slowed down around the turn of the century. Smith went so far as to accuse a NOAA official — Thomas Karl, who has since retired — of manipulating data to advance an “extreme climate change agenda”. In 2016, Smith came to the defense of oil giant Exxon Mobil when it was being investigated by the attorneys general of New York of Massachusetts, who wanted to know whether the firm mislead investors about the financial implications of global warming. Smith issued subpoenas to the attorneys general, as part of a broader probe that also targeted environmental groups that have accused Exxon Mobil of suppressing internal research and spreading false information about climate change.

EDIT

http://www.nature.com/news/controversial-chairman-of-us-house-science-committee-to-retire-1.22954

[lapfog_1]

1. I wouldn't celebrate too much

unless we Democrats take back the House in a year, I expect someone even worse to be the new chairperson of the science committee.

[virtualobserver]

2. true, but open seats are easier to take back....

and this guy is my Congressman, and I REALLY want a Democrat to replace him.

[lapfog_1]

3. looks like the 21st disctrict is very carefully drawn

s9 as to only include small parts of both San Antonio and Austin plus a large swath of rural Texas... gerrymandered to hell

Good luck beating whatever slobbering goon they nominate to replace him.

[virtualobserver]

4. I'm not saying that I'm optimistic, but I am encouraged

Often in the past, no one has run as a Democrat.......There were already 9 running before Lamar announced his retirement.