Griffin Still Hates Earmarks

At NASA Hearing, Silence on Earmarks, Washington Post

“I feel about these earmarks the same way I always feel about earmarks,” Griffin told reporters after the hearing. “Our budget is very limited. We have a strategy approved by Congress, and we can carry out that strategy . . . but every earmark, if it isn’t coaligned with that strategy, is a fiscal distraction.”

Statement by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin before the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space

“Earmarks have increased by a factor of more than 30 in number and almost 8 in dollar value since FY 1997, when NASA was earmarked $74 million, for 6 discrete items. The growth of these Congressional directions is eroding NASA’s ability to carry out its mission of space exploration and peer-reviewed scientific discovery.”

NASA Internal Memo: Enterprise Council (EC) ViTS 19 April 2005, NASA HQ

“- If earmarks from the Hill are legislated, we will release the money as soon as possible. He hates earmarks. We need to avoid earmarks in the first place or influence the earmark to benefit NASA work, but when we get them we need to fund them promptly. The bottom line is to honor earmarks when they are directed.”