Posted by Jonathan Adler: Pathogens in Harm's Way: http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_07_26-2009_08_01.shtml#1248743933
The Department of Homeland Security is planning a $700 million pathogen research facility in a tornado-prone part of Kansas. The Government Accountability Office thinks this is a supremely bad idea, and that the analysis supporting the decision for placing the facility on the U.S. mainland -- let alone in tornado alley -- is not "scientifically defensible." [1]According to the Washington Post: "The GAO said DHS greatly underestimated the chance of accidental release and major contamination from such research, which has been conducted only on a remote island off the United States." How could this happen? The Post suggests strong bipartisan support could have played a role. Republican Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts joined then-Governor (and now HHS Secretary) Kathleen Sebelius lobbied hard to get the facility in Kansas. References 1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/26/AR2009072602857_pf.html _______________________________________________ Volokh mailing list [email protected] http://lists.powerblogs.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volokh
