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Sen. Hutchison pitches sizable expansion to proposed NASA budget
The space program's proposed 2011 budget would see a $1.3-billion boost under a new bill proposed by Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R).
Her legislation, unveiled Thursday, would also postpone indefinitely the retirement of NASA's manned-spaceflight program, and establish an independent commission to assess the agency's shuttle system.
The White House's vision for NASA would emphasize domestic research and open the spaceflight program to commercial entreprenuers. Additionally, the budget would shut down NASA's Constellation program -- established by former President George W. Bush as a means of returning to the Moon.
However, Hutchison disputed both goals in a statement released Thursday. She implored lawmakers to consider a more robust NASA budget that would allow the agency to both save money and continue making key advances in space research.
“This must not be an ‘either or’ proposition where we are forced to choose between continuing to fly the shuttle to service the station and maintain our independence in reaching space, or investing in the next generation of space vehicle," said Hutchison, who represents a state in which NASA has a key base.
"We can and must do both," she added.
Ultimately, the Texas Republican is hardly alone in her criticism of the White House's space plan: Many lawmakers have charged the Obama administration's NASA budget lacks vision and dooms the U.S. space program to second-tier status.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) even called the budget proposal "radical" during a hearing last week. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fl.) similarly signaled concerns with the spending plan at that time.
However, it is unclear whether Hutchison's bill might gain traction. While the White House's NASA budget has hardly received a warm reception in Congress, a change to that plan would require lawmakers to approve space spending increases at a time when deficit concerns all but dominate all political debates.
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