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Texas Lawmakers Press NASA to Base Lunar Lander Program in Houston:
The Apollo missions that flew to the Moon during the 1960s were designed and controlled by what is now known as Johnson Space Center, the home of the famous "Mission Control." Moreover, the astronauts that flew to the Moon all lived in Houston. It would stand to reason, therefore, that as NASA gears up to return to the Moon, major elements of this program would likewise be controlled from the Texas metropolis that styles itself "Space City."
Times change, however. In recent months, the politically well-positioned Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville, Alabama, has been quietly pressing leaders with NASA Headquarters for program management of mid- to large-size landers to the lunar surface, which would evolve into human landers. Sources indicated this effort was having some success.
However, Texas legislators have now begun to push back. On Tuesday, both of Texas' senators (John Cornyn and Ted Cruz), as well as three representatives with space-related committee chairs (John Culberson, Lamar Smith, and Brian Babin), wrote a letter to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.
"We support NASA's focus on returning to the Moon and using it as part of a stepping stone approach to place American boots on the surface of Mars in the 2030s," the Texas Republicans wrote. "As NASA reviews solicitations for lunar landers, we write to express our strong support for the establishment of NASA's lunar lander program at the Johnson Space Center." The letter reminds Bridenstine of Houston's strong spaceflight heritage.
Somehow, "Huntsville, we have a problem" doesn't have the same ring to it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 30 2018, @10:24PM (4 children)
For many years I hated the idea of term limits; I felt that it should be up to the voters to decide how many terms a representative should serve. Now, though, I'm slowly coming round to the idea. My suggestions:
(1) maximum of 4 (or, possibly 6) 2-year terms in the House
(2) maximum of 2 6-year terms in the Senate
In theory, having a limited time as an elected representative should force the Congress critters to focus their attention on actually working on the issues they ran on. I would think this should be plenty of time for an elected representative to make substantial progress on whatever agenda they were seeking office for. My hope is that this would clear out rent-seekers in Congress and promote fuller participation of The People in running their government. Just a thought.
(Score: 2) by Osamabobama on Thursday August 30 2018, @11:16PM (3 children)
The problem with term limits is that congress turns into a group of rookies trying to govern. That, in itself, may not be so bad, but it could lead to the real power devolving to congressional staff, who aren't directly accountable to voters.
That being said, it couldn't be any more disruptive than electing Trump has been; let's give it a try.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 31 2018, @02:34AM (1 child)
Power devolving to congressional staff may or may not be a bad thing. Professional, career civil servants have always been with us, and they do represent stability. That staff can be controlled with actual laws. That system really isn't a bad one.
The system we actually have is demonstrably poor. Career politicians are very nearly the worst thing we can have.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday August 31 2018, @12:17PM
Aside, of course, from the minor detail of completely defeating the reason for term limits.
So can the present system with the same theory.
Except they're not elected and thus, much less accountable to the public than the present system.
So we should replace it with a demonstrably poorer system?
Look, let's just go to the endgame and put me in charge. I'll power trip responsibly.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 31 2018, @03:34PM
Original AC here. My proposal was for 4 to 6 2-year terms in the House and 2 6-year terms in the Senate. That works out to 20 to 24 years total for someone who gets elected to serve in both the House and Senate. I would think that after about 10 years you can reasonably assume that they are no longer "rookies".