FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 19, 2011
Contact:
Christopher Horner, chris.horner@atinstitute.org
ATI Environmental Law Center Seeks NASA Records on Dr. James Hansen
Today the American Tradition Institute’s Environmental Law Center filed a federal Freedom of Information Act request with NASA, seeking records detailing whether and how ‘global warming’ activist Dr. James Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) has complied with applicable federal ethics and financial disclosure laws and regulations, and NASA Rules of Behavior.
This request seeks records of longtime, taxpayer-funded activist Hansen, in the knowledge that FOIA-released records and other documents show his GISS colleague, Dr. Gavin Schmidt, has edited the activist blog RealClimate on regular business hours when he is nominally working for the taxpayer. In fact, FOIA-released records indicate this third-party activism was considered part of Schmidt’s job, seeking to rehabilitate the discredited ‘hockey stick’ and otherwise promoting GISS’s activist line.
The request for Hansen’s ethics-compliance records comes on the heels of his latest adventures in public advocacy, writing in the Chinese newspaper South China Morning Post to blame the United States for modern climate change and his ritually exaggerated claims of future catastrophe, as well as some by now typically nasty sneering at American democracy in a follow-up article published on his website (now taken down but surely produced, as FOIA records have already revealed that so much of his privately posted work has been produced, on taxpayer time).
This is the latest in a long line of often radical behavior by Hansen that, were it engaged in by a government employee on the other side of the ‘global warming’ issue, would have resulted in discipline and possibly termination years ago. Dr. Hansen may state that he is speaking as a private citizen — in fora ranging from his testimony supporting lawbreaking in the name of global warming, to extreme public advocacy only tolerated, if even celebrated, because of his position with NASA — but the obvious truth is that he is trading on his platform as a NASA scientist to gain the wide audience he has (Hansen is an astronomer).
“It seems that Hansen’s access to and use of the media has so cowed his NASA superiors that his office has been allowed to operate unencumbered by applicable ethics requirements which other NASA employees, not so darling to the media, must comply with,” said Christopher Horner, ATI’s senior director of litigation. “In fact, in public court pleadings filed in Competitive Enterprise Institute v. NASA, NASA recently revealed that Hansen’s office operated for years in violation of these obligations.”
ATI’s requests build on that record, seeking specific records since 2004 relating to:
- Required Approvals and Waivers for Outside Employment
- Required Financial Disclosure/Conflict of Interest Disclosure
- Internal discussion of possible or actual disciplinary actions
ATI looks forward to NASA’s compliance with this request, in stark contrast to how it has recently treated other requests for GISS records, with expectation that NASA will provide the responsive records in the statutorily permitted period of time.
See ATI’s Freedom of Information Act request to NASA seeking James Hansen’s records relating to compliance with ethics and financial disclosure laws. ( http://www.atinstitute.org/uploads/File/ATI_NASA_Hansen_Ethics_FOIA.pdf )
For an interview with Christopher Horner, senior director of litigation for the American Tradition Institute Environmental Law Center, contact him at chris.horner@atinstitute.org.
Cal Barndorfer says:
“Where’s the evidence that they were on the public clock?”
It was on the blog time stamps — until realclimate found out people were questioning the 24/7 comments and articles moderated and posted by you-know-who. Then they took the time stamps off.
That’s OK. The internet never forgets.
Thomas says:
January 19, 2011 at 12:11 pm
KD, ATI may be private but as a tax-exempt entity it is required to make some records public:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501%28c%29
If ATI wants to be secretive they shouldn’t request tax breaks and the right for donors to deduct contributions from their taxes. As a non-American I suspect I don’t have a right to request that information, but Americans do have that right. That is the beauty of your republic.
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Thomas, you are presuming facts that are not in evidence, i.e. that ATI wants to remain secretive. Come back when you have fact that ARE in evidence.
Again, whether you, I or even our President WANT to know more about ATI, doesn’t mean we have the RIGHT to know more.
Isn’t a clear separation of privacy rules between PUBLIC and PRIVATE sectors nice? You should try it where you live and maybe your country, too, would be the envy of the world!
Ok, I am in the Uk, so don’t know the details of US working practises but I have long since felt that it was/is ‘unethical’ that any senior scientists or researchers engage in partisan type activities – a la Hansen and Schmidt. Notwithstanding the work time issues commented on by others – it is one thing to be pro-‘some group or other’ and support them in your ‘spare’ time – but any supposed real scientist should be ‘remote’ from political or idealist alignments as clearly this illustrates that such ‘other’ motivation could enter ones work.
The AGW propoonents (funny typo that – so I’ll leave it!) sure like to bleat about other scientists funded by ‘big oil’ etc – so whats good for the goose,….
But on a more serious note – any scientist may well follow a path of research based on his/her particular ‘pet’ theories and ideas BUT they should always remain impartial at the genuine scientific and investigative stages. I absolutely detest Realclimate with a vengeance because it is so biased and I will never go there again. If you think about it, the effect that these type of ‘linked in’ people can have on all our lives by their politically or ideologically motivated leanings can (and is) quite devastating. This is not the way a real scientist works – he looks at stuff, researches, etc and produces apolitical and honest results and interpretations. The political implications and decisions should be left to others – if not – as in the current case of AGW theory –
the division line is blurred and the science is tarnished (thats a polite way of describing it!).
As a 501(c)3 organization the ATI should be preparing a Form 990 tax return which is open to inspection according to the rules as noted in the Instructions to Form 990. These are available as downloads in the IRS website.
I am in full support of the FOIA requests. This act does wonders in making government accountable, one request at a time.
James Hansen came to the UK to testify on behalf of those activists who broke the UK law by invading the Kingsnorth Power Station. The law breakers were acquitted, possibly because of the impassioned testimony of JH. I wonder if Mr Hansen was on holiday when he came to the UK or whether he was being funded by Greenpeace, his employers or Christian Aid. I am very pleased that he is being subjected to the ‘rigours’ of the FOIA and hope that it operates more effectively in the US than it appears to do in England. The man has done untold damage to the cause of science and his latest diatribe in a Chinese newspaper makes one wonder if he is not seriously in need of a smart kick up his backside, or, more charitably, some sympathetic counselling…perhaps with a hockey stick.
Tony
According to NASA policy, the agency has twenty business days to answer the FOIA request. This can be extended an additional ten business days. If no satisfactory response is given by that time, the requester can take NASA to court.
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/FOIA/EO_FOIA_Ref_Guide.pdf
I’m very serious, I think it is long past time that taxpayers (WHO PAY HIS SALARY) begin to demand that he gets booted from his job. He’s been arrested and jailed. He’s testified on behalf of saboteurs of a power plant of an important US ally-England. He’s spoken out in favor of a totalitarian political system (China’s) in favor of our own. (By the way, Jimmy boy, how pleasant do you think it’d be to be in one of their jails?). As a ‘public’ employee, while he can certainly cast his vote for the candidate of his choosing, he has taken public sides in previous elections, receiving a 250k grant from Theresa Heinz Kerry (who, by the way, owns how many ‘carbon footprint’ mansions?). I’m serious, all of us should begin to contact NASA and begin to demand his ouster. How can we do this? I’m fairly certain his actions would justify job termination. And if they do, I hope and pray, that it cuts off his pension too.
What tangled webs…
NASA bosses must be in a quandary about this exquisite snare laid by ATI; such a seemingly simple request, but what profound consequences.
I am hesitant to lay out the choices and consequences facing NASA and their masters over the FOIA request, as spin agents are afoot, but the ultimate consequences will not be good for the power elite.
They will make the most of it, as they always do, but their campaign to control you by controlling the air you breathe has been slowed.
As a 501(c)3 they must produce a Form 990 and have it available upon request. This form will tell you how much the principals of the organization make it salary and benefits and will also list major donors if above a certain threshold.
Depending upon how long they have been in operation <2 years they may have postponed filing their first 990, which the IRS allows for….
I work for one so I know some of the rules…
I realize this is an Anthony post, but I’d love to see more of Chris Horner’s posts here. Even though this is a science first site, he generally covers the policy that the science is designed to impact and he does it smartly.
Cal Barndorfer says:
January 19, 2011 at 2:28 pm
So, knowing that NASA allows employees to work irregular work schedules, you just need to provide evidence that on the dates/times in question they were on the public clock.
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Hey Cal, I’ve got an idea. How about we issue an FOIA request to gather the evidence you’re asking for? Oh wait…….
I don’t want my tax dollars paying the salary of a man who has such disdain for his country.
I don’t want my tax dollars paying the pension of a man who has such disdain for his country.
For having such disdain for his country, I suspect more funding is forthcoming from the Nobel committee. So, he shouldn’t need any more of my tax dollars…
I heard a while back that it was Al Gore who kept Hansen from being fired a long time ago. Go figure.
Well, I’ll try this again since Hansen’s adoration of Chinese totalitarianism is mentioned and I’m in earlier on this thread. My tribute again to James “Coal Train” Hansen:
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/themaverickone/hansen2.jpg
Can I get a witness? C’mon already. That’s good stuff. Ok, not great, but I dig it. Feel free to use it next time Chairman James gets in a rage over that pesky little democracy thing. As always, Cheers!
I don’t understand the people opposing a FOIA request.
This is only about information that should be public in the first place.
Anyone can file a FOIA at any time.
Yes, you take public money and it belongs to the public.
What are they trying to protect or hide, and why in this world would they want to do that,
….since the science is settled
This article in Wednesdays’s San Francisco Chronicle looks to be quite relevant to the Hansen situation.
Court: Feds can pry into NASA scientists’ lives http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/19/BACC1HBJJS.DTL&tsp=1
Stephen L says:
January 19, 2011 at 6:39 pm
This article in Wednesdays’s San Francisco Chronicle looks to be quite relevant to the Hansen situation.
Court: Feds can pry into NASA scientists’ lives http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/19/BACC1HBJJS.DTL&tsp=1
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Thanks for the link Stephen, very timely. Impressive is the 8-0 vote. Seems a pretty strong consensus to me.
My tribute again to James “Coal Train” Hansen:
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu44/themaverickone/hansen2.jpg
Can I get a witness? C’mon already.
Yes, it’s quite flattering. Maybe it could even go “T-shirt” for him.
Judd says:
January 19, 2011 at 4:31 pm
“I’m very serious, I think it is long past time that taxpayers (WHO PAY HIS SALARY) begin to demand that he gets booted from his job. He’s been arrested and jailed. He’s testified on behalf of saboteurs of a power plant of an important US ally-England. He’s spoken out in favor of a totalitarian political system (China’s) in favor of our own. (By the way, Jimmy boy, how pleasant do you think it’d be to be in one of their jails?). As a ‘public’ employee, while he can certainly cast his vote for the candidate of his choosing, he has taken public sides in previous elections, receiving a 250k grant from Theresa Heinz Kerry (who, by the way, owns how many ‘carbon footprint’ mansions?). I’m serious, all of us should begin to contact NASA and begin to demand his ouster. How can we do this? I’m fairly certain his actions would justify job termination. And if they do, I hope and pray, that it cuts off his pension too.”
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Repeated here in hope that people will read this. Spot on, Judd.
Chris
Norfolk, VA, USA
Gavin Schmidt is reported to be blogging during working hours. I see many here are calling for an inquiry into it.
I think it should be widened though to ALL Government employee’s that have a blog or post articles to blogs or read blogs such as Judith Curry, Roy Spencer, Richard Lindzen (he also speaks at skeptics conferences did you know? and probably on the taxpayers dime too) the list is endless…
ShrNfr says: / January 19, 2011 at 11:09 am / David L. The constitution says: “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” section 9 article 1
That didn’t seem to matter in 1993 when Bill C. got his retroactive tax hike.
Martin,
Don’t be silly. We don’t need a dragnet. Only totalitarian-minded climate alarmists would want that.
But in the case of Schmidt and Mann [who owns RealClimate], there is verifiable proof that they’ve wasted countless hours blogging, censoring, moderating, deleting, editing, and writing wide-ranging articles every month.
I’d like to see their written job descriptions. Betcha blogging isn’t one of their job duties.
Thomas said January 19, 2011 at 9:43 am”
“Can we also get full disclosure of who are behind and finances the American Tradition Institute?”
And you get extra points for naming all of the fossil fuel/Self-Interested Corps front organizations that has Chris Horner as a key player. Here’s the funding fact sheet for the Competitive Enterprise Institute => http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php
… yet a high percentage on this site will claim equivalence (actually worse) between funds used to propagandize in support of vested interests in terms of “corporate profits first, last & always” with funds in support of advancing scientific knowledge.
Smokey said January 19, 2011 at 8:26 pm”
“I’d like to see their written job descriptions. Betcha blogging isn’t one of their job duties.”
I’d bet huge amounts that it most certainly is ….
Jack Greer,
Since you’re so pure and green, you don’t use fossil fuels, right?
Hypocrite.
You say, “corporate profits first, last & always” like it’s a bad thing.
Economic illiterate.
The fact is that corporate profits first, last & always, is a fiduciary duty of publicly traded corporations. Operating to maximize shareholder profits is a legal requirement. Officers of public corporations have been sent to prison for not protecting the shareholders’ interest — which is to make the maximum profit within the law. Ever hear of Bernie Madoff?
All your link shows is a bunch of disgruntled, unhappy nay-sayers trying to make honest citizens look bad.
If the companies they castigate have done wrong, they should be prosecuted. Funny thing, though, out of hundreds of thousands of corporations, it is newsworthy when someone is caught violating their fiduciary duty. It rarely happens.
Grow up. Learn how the real world works. People who hate “the rich” have one thing in common: they will never get rich. Your petty jealousy, and coveting your neighbor’s goods, and and class envy get tiresome.