Our U.S. House of Representatives has “The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology” to help our lawmakers sort through some of the difficult scientific issues. As a scientist, I know some of these issues can be extremely complex.

One member of that committee [Rep. Paul C. Broun (R., Ga.)] has stated:

“God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the big bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell. And it’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior. You see, there are a lot of scientific data that I’ve found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth. I don’t believe that the earth’s but about 9,000 years old. I believe it was created in six days as we know them. That’s what the Bible says.

“And what I’ve come to learn is that it’s the manufacturer’s handbook, is what I call it. It teaches us how to run our lives individually, how to run our families, how to run our churches. But it teaches us how to run all of public policy and everything in society. And that’s the reason as your congressman I hold the Holy Bible as being the major directions to me of how I vote in Washington, D.C., and I’ll continue to do that.”

The quote is taken from http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/06/1140947/-Rep-Broun-R-Evolution-is-from-Pit-of-Hell which has not only the quote but a link to the YouTube video of these remarks.

I don’t have a problem with someone holding these views. I believe they are wrong but if someone wants to believe them we do have that freedom as Americans. I would not elect someone like that but apparently the voters in his district are OK with those beliefs. Broun is apparently not clarifying or commenting on his remarks.

But I do not understand how the House leadership can appoint someone with those beliefs to The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This is not the only odd appointment to that committee. Todd Akin (R-MO) is also on that committee.

Todd Akin has taken back the “legitimate rape” comment he made back in August but still maintains many of his beliefs and is still in the Senate race with GOP backing.

But there are differences between Broun and Akin. Akin seems to think the world is about 6000 years old while Broun favors a number around 9,000. One the other hand, most who follow science suggest the numbers is billions.

Those with an interest in these two might enjoy the writings of a science teacher on Todd Akin and Paul Broun.

So how powerful is a committee in its area? According to the House of Representatives website :

“Laws begin as ideas. First, a representative sponsors a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended.”

So if a bill is assigned to The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, it seems it is only considered by the whole House if and when it is released by that committee. So these committee members are more than an advisory board, they are gatekeepers of sorts and nothing gets to the House without going through them. So it is frightening that the Republican leadership would appoint people who don’t seem to understand science to this job.

But who needs science? We have the Bible and Republicans.