Planetary Science Funding – Advice from OMB and Congressional Staff

On Tuesday, the Planetary Science Decadal Survey Committee was briefed by a number of organizations, including representatives from APL, JPL, GSFC, OMB, OSTP, and Congressional staff.  We weren’t there, but initial reports are fascinating.  It seems that while OMB encouraged the community to fit all their plans and proposals within current financial constraints, Congressional staff had a different message.

The Space Policy Online blog reports:

The OMB/OSTP message also was in contrast to remarks by Dick Obermann and Ed Feddeman of the House Science and Technology Committee staff who reminded the group that it is Congress that ultimately decides budgets.   Representing the Democratic and Republican viewpoints respectively, both advised the committee to focus their deliberations on the top scientific priorities, not the budget.  While acknowledging that there are no blank checks, they stressed that if the science is sufficiently compelling, Congress could make additional funds available.

Read the rest at the Space Policy Online blog.

This is important news for our community.  The question is, how do we best communicate to Congress just how compelling our future science missions are?

Acronyms:
OMB = Office of Management and Budget
OSTP = White House Office of Science and Technology Policy