Yesterday in a Senate hearing on the future of the International Space Station, Bill Nelson feigned outrage against cutting NASA funding saying, “we cannot allow history to repeat itself,” referring to the Obama administration’s elimination of the space shuttle program.
What an act.
Bill Nelson, who has built his entire campaign around his 1980s-space trip, did absolutely nothing to stop the Obama administration from making those cuts, even as NASA predicted it could cause a loss of up to 28,000 jobs on the Space Coast.
Don’t take my word for it though. One former NASA ally in Congress said Nelson “wasn’t up to the task” of protecting NASA funding, and a space industry executive even called Nelson’s sad attempt to save the program, “pathetic.”
“After nearly 30 years in Washington and doing nothing to save the Space Coast, Bill Nelson’s fake outrage over NASA funding cuts isn’t fooling anyone,” said Camille Gallo, NRSC Spokesperson. “Floridians know they can’t count on Bill Nelson to deliver for Florida, and stand ready to vote him out in November.”
Background:
NASA Predicted The Loss Of Between 9,870 And 28,200 Jobs On The Space Coast As A Result Of The Discontinuation Of The Shuttle Program. “Shuttle Discovery is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center at about 9:20 tonight, leaving only eight more scheduled missions before NASA retires the fleet in 2010 — and devastates the Space Coast economy. Figures released by NASA this week predict the retirement of the shuttle will result in the loss of at least 3,500 jobs at KSC. Some industry officials say the number could be as high as 10,000. The best-case scenario would result in the loss of about 9,870 other jobs in the surrounding community; the worst-case number is 28,200.” (Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews, “Retiring Shuttle May Doom 38,200 Space Coast Jobs,” Orlando Sentinel, 3/11/09)
A Former NASA Ally In Congress Said Nelson Is A “Nice Guy” That Hasn’t Been Up To The Task Of Protecting NASA’s Funding. “[Nelson’s] critics say he has failed, and even a former NASA ally in Congress says he has not done enough. ‘Right now, NASA needs an angel in the House or Senate. And that’s a role that we were hoping Bill Nelson would step up to,’ said former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic, who retired in 2008. Weldon said Nelson — though a ‘nice guy’ — hasn’t been up to the task.” (Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews, “Retiring Shuttle May Doom 38,200 Space Coast Jobs,” Orlando Sentinel, 3/11/09)
One Space Industry Executive Called Nelson’s Entire Approach To Saving The Shuttle Industry “Pathetic.” “Some in the industry said Nelson blew an opportunity to help KSC during debate last month on the economic-stimulus bill. Rather than focus on the jobs NASA would create — the point of the aid package — Nelson emphasized the agency’s benefits for education and technological advancements. That kicked off a flurry of e-mails — obtained by the Sentinel — among irate space-industry executives, one of whom called Nelson’s entire approach ‘pathetic.’” (Robert Block and Mark K. Matthews, “Retiring Shuttle May Doom 38,200 Space Coast Jobs,” Orlando Sentinel, 3/11/09)