IRONY: The Department of Commerce's Mary good notes that while states want to expand their development programs, federal officials are discussing disbanding such efforts.
"There's a strong sentiment in Congress to cut federal expenditures, including science and technology, and cut the federal role in governing in general," says Richard Thornburgh, former governor of Pennsylvania and attorney general during the Bush administration. "At the same time, Congress wants to devolve more power and authority to the states."
The model emerging from these philosophical differences - and in light of the political and scientific realities - may be a national system in which the federal government facilitates collaboration among states, academia, and industry.
But while both federal and state government leaders are in favor of greater state input in science and technology development, critics worry that states may fall prey to political influence, not unlike pork-barrel projects prevalent in the federal arena.
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