IT鈥橲 early days, but it looks like good news for science and the environment as jobs are handed out in the wake of the 4 November US election.
In Congress, representative Henry Waxman of California has ousted his fellow Democrat John Dingell as chair of the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Dingell has frustrated efforts to impose strict emission standards on US car makers and electricity companies. Waxman, by contrast, backs tough action to combat global warming.
Waxman also supported the resistance to President George W. Bush鈥檚 so-called 鈥渨ar on science鈥�, holding hearings into alleged political interference by the administration. 鈥淲axman played a very important role,鈥� says Francesca Grifo of pressure group the Union of Concerned Scientists. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an incredibly talented and energetic man.鈥�
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鈥淲axman supported the resistance to George W. Bush鈥檚 鈥榳ar on science鈥欌��
President-elect Barack Obama, meanwhile, has named his economic team. It includes Peter Orszag, who will lead . Money will be tight in the economic downturn, but Orszag seems to value science. He currently heads the Congressional Budget Office, which has put out , including one on .
Orszag has also argued for more research into the comparative effectiveness of medical treatments, to help .
