The 258-page stimulus package proposal making its way through the House would pump $3 billion into the National Science Foundation (NSF), $2 billion into the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $1.9 billion into the Department of Energy (DOE) and $1.5 billion into university research facilities. Much of that money would be directed toward science infrastructure like renovating buildings or laboratories, but the NSF and NIH would receive $2 billion and $1.5 billion respectively that could be used to pay for thousands of basic research grants that have already been approved but for which there was previously not enough money. [from our friends at Nature]Comment: I guess the reconstruction and renovation of scientific facilities is a very good way to use stimulus funds, since it should put people to work quickly.
Funding more research grants is not likely to put more people to work, is it? The researchers probably have jobs already, and are not among the unemployed. Those funds don't seem to be targeted to the people most in need,
Does it build the basis for long term GDP growth? Funding basic research in NSF and NIH is unlikely to have short term benefits for U.S. industrial innovation either. JAD
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