Rep. Posey Was Prophetic: NASA Bill Asked Too Much for Too Little

While Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and NASA spar over the status of the new heavy-lift rocket, Space Coast Congressman Bill Posey has some additional thoughts.

Posey, who clairvoyantly declared on the floor of the House of Representative on Sept. 29, 2010,that Congress' authorization bill "asks NASA to do too much with too little," said:

We need to reprioritize overall NASA funding so that human space flight is given the highest priority and we put the brakes on funding increases for other initiatives that the administration wants to grow, like global-warming research.

"Global-warming research is performed by a multitude of other federal agencies while human space flight is exclusive to NASA, Posey, R-Rockledge, told Sunshine State News.

As Posey presciently observed last September during debate on the NASA authorization bill: "There's something in this bill for everyone to hate. Sure enough."

The congressman added, "Hopefully, the appropriations process can move this country back on the right path."

On Wednesday, Nelson said, I talked to (NASA Administrator) Charlie Bolden yesterday and told him he has to follow the law, which requires a new rocket by 2016.And NASA has to do it within the budget the law requires.

Nelson spokesman Bryan Gulley said the senator's office has asked NASA to provide further information to support its claims that it can't get the work done on time and on budget.

"Were awaiting their response," Gulley said Friday afternoon.