906 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



GOLDWATER CAUTIONS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY 



With the aid of the equivalent of six man-months of work early 

 in February by OTA staff, followed by hearings, then another OTA 

 review of the hearings, plus private discussion between the committee 

 staff and ERDA staff, the subcommittee by markup time had a clearer 

 idea of where increases could profitably be recommended. Goldwater 

 was a cautionary force. At first he objected that he had not been in on 

 the staff discussions which resulted in recommended increases. Then 

 he questioned whether it wouldn't be better to allow ERDA to get 

 started and come back later if they found they needed more funds. 

 Finally, he raised many questions about whether ERDA could wisely 

 and efficiently spend additional funds beyond their budget. Ottinger 

 pointed out that the President had been lecturing the Congress for not 

 doing anything in the energy area, adding: "I think we have an obli- 

 gation to get ERDA geared up in these fields as fast as they can pro- 

 ductively do it." Goldwater disagreed: 



Representative Mike McCormack (Democrat of Washington) presides over hearings on 

 solar, geothermal, and conservation technologies. From left, Willis D. Smith (staff), McCor- 

 mack, Dr. J. Thomas Ratchford (subcommittee staff director), Charles A. Trabandt (staff), 

 Representative Barry M. Goldwater, Jr. (Republican of California). 



