Hurricane chief: NOAA wasted millions

[brooklynite]

Source: AP

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The federal government is spending millions of dollars on a publicity campaign while its hurricane forecasters are struggling with budget cuts, the National Hurricane Center's director said Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is spending up to $4 million to publicize a 200th anniversary celebration, said Bill Proenza, who heads the hurricane center, part of the National Weather Service, which is a NOAA agency. At the same time, it has cut $700,000 from hurricane research, he said.

"No question about it, it is not justified. It is using appropriated funds for self promotion," Proenza said in a phone interview while attending the Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale.

NOAA spokesman Anson Franklin said the agency is only spending about $1.5 million on the campaign over two years. He said it is justified to publicize the agency's mission to a public that is often unaware of its involvement in weather prediction and forecasting.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070517/ap_on_sc/hurricane_conference_1

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It's never the policy, it's always the message...

[kestrel91316]

1. More monkeywrenching by Bushco.

Is NOAA dead yet?? Mission Accomplished(TM)!!!!

[tanyev]

2. Par for the course for the administration that governs by photo-op.

[magellan]

3. Still trying to trump up reasons to privatize the weather, huh?

Maybe BushCo can arm some mercenaries and send them out to kill hurricanes. Yeah, that'll work.

[Divernan]

4. This cut to NOAA benefits Accuweather/Rick Santorum's contributor.

You recall Santorum relentlessly pushed legislation at the behest of the private weather service, Accuweather, which would bar NOAA from providing free to the public ANY weather information/forcasts which were being offered for sale by any private entity. Of course, the gorilla of private entities is Accuweather, which markets its services to many broadcast outlets.
By reducing NOAA's ability to forecast natural weather disasters, Bush increases dependence on private weather services.

It is yet one more obscene bead in the unholy Bush rosary of actions aimed at gutting the federal administrative agencies. Don't badmouth NOAA about this - this budgetary decision doubtless originated in the White House and/or with the political appointees Bush uses to destroy federal agencies.

[magellan]

6. I agree with you 100%

All privatization proceeds from this WH. The RWnuts helped "retire" Max Mayfield, yet another devastating loss I'll never forgive those knuckle-dragging neanderthals for.

Sorry if I gave the impression I was bad-mouthing NOAA. I rely on them heavily during hurricane season. AccuWeather? They're as competent as BushCo. :thumbsdown:

[geomon666]

5. This is absolutely disgusting and a travesty.

Which just so happens to be the Bush M.O.

Jesus Christ on the brink of the start of the hurricane season, they cut funding for research and then they throw a fucking party. Perfect Bush strategery.

[Javaman]

7. Define waste...

I'm sure the corporate thugs saw it as a giant payday.

[krkaufman]

8. Isn't propaganda illegal? How about you skip the promotion propaganda ...

... and just do the job.