ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES 



907 



Wc have no obligation to the President. Our obligation is to the people and 

 the taxpayers, and I think in doing that we should be responsible in our analysis of 

 these programs. I don't think anyone on this panel is opposed to these programs. I 

 think the thing we've got to be careful about in these authorizations is that we just 

 don't be overcome with the thought that just pure money is going to do it. 



At one point, when the staff recommended a big increase, Goldwater 

 asked: "Who's been throwing darts?" McCormack defended the need 

 for early action and added : 



We have responsibility to take the leadership. The Administration has clearly 

 handed us the ball in this area. 



Ottinger, Hechler, Frey, Harkin and most of the members of the 

 committee spoke out for huge increases, while Goldwater frequently 

 interjected his own reluctance to leapfrog ahead that fast: 



I am hopeful that we don't try to get into this game of king of the mountain, 

 seeing who can outspend who just under the guise of doing good for the American 

 people. 



On March 5, 1975 Goldwater also attacked staff" recommenda- 

 tions for across-the-board increases, contending that these did not rep- 

 resent a responsible allocation of resources among the various sub- 

 programs in the solar, geothermal, and conservation areas. By dint of 

 some very fast footwork, by the next day Dr. Ratchford was able to 

 report : 



Mr. Goldwater, you raised a very important issue yesterday, and that is how does 

 one set priorities between subprograms and within an important overall program like 

 solar energy? What we did pursue after our discussion yesterday was to go back to the 

 program managers at ERDA who have responsibility for solar energy and ask them: 

 Is there a better set of priorities within the total program? 



Armed with the more detailed information, Dr. Ratchford prepared a 

 special set of figures which he labeled "The Goldwater Table." There- 

 after, references to the "Goldwater Table" had a remarkable effect in 

 easing the opposition of the gentleman from California. 



WHO HAS ASKED YOU TO GO SLOWER? 



In July 1975, Dr. John Teem, ERDA's Assistant Administrator for 

 solar and geothermal programs, told the committee that ERDA had 

 been criticized for being too conservative, and also criticized for being 

 too optimistic. Skeptical, Hechler asked him: 



Name a single Member of the House or Senate who has leaned on you to go 

 slower or has criticized you for being too optimistic. 



Dr. Teem responded: 



I believe at one point that Mr. Goldwater did make some comments to me that 

 we not move so rapidly; that we would be irresponsible fiscally. I can't remember 

 any other things at this moment. 



