Science and politics: Playing politics with scientific studies serves no one

Editorial from the Roseburg News-Review supports Senator Wyden's call for an investigation into Interior Department official's meddling in Endangered Species science.

EDITORIAL

Time and again, those people who are deeply immersed in public lands issues will say they want “good science” to be behind decisions.

If the government says that the environment is being harmed by commercial logging, for example, those in the industry will say “show me the science.”

When the government says an endangered species has recovered enough for protections to be eased, conservation groups will say “show me the science.”

No matter what philosophical side a group takes, they want good science behind it, not something cobbled together by a hired consultant who is seeking a predetermined result.

That’s why everyone should be furious over the accusation that an Interior Department official, a political appointee, was allegedly rewriting scientific opinions.

Even those who may have agreed with her stand on environmental protection should be angered. First off, any of those decisions tainted by political meddling can be challenged in court, adding even more time to the interminable delays.

Second, if such manipulation becomes the status quo, then what will happen when an election puts someone else in the top seats, and they in turn twist studies the direction they want them to go?

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is right to raise this issue publicly, instead of just allowing the official, Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary of the interior for fish and wildlife and parks, to resign.

MacDonald is accused of pressuring field staff to rewrite assessments for endangered species that she didn’t agree with. She tampered so much with staff reports that scientists reportedly asked their names be removed from them because they were no longer accurate.

According to the Department of Interior Web site, MacDonald is a civil engineer with a master's degree in management. While she has some experience in endangered species issues in her career, she is hardly qualified to overrule scientists working in their specialized fields.

It now appears that the changes she insisted on were more political than scientific.

In one case, MacDonald acknowledged that she turned over confidential internal agency documents to the organizations considering litigation against the government. That was a clear violation of policy.

MacDonald’s resignation should not end the matter if the government is serious about doing what it can to lessen the effect of politics on government actions, especially those dealing with science.

An investigation should be carried out to determine if MacDonald violated laws, and directives should be sent out to others in her position reminding them that the American public expects “good science” from its government.