Texas Insider

12:16 pm CST - December 16, 2009

Sen. Cornyn Urges Federal Official to Comply with Open Records Request for Global Warming Research

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, this week sent a letter the Director of the Office of Government Information Services in support of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for research relating to NASA’s global warming studies.

The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) was created by legislation Sen. Cornyn authored in the Judiciary Committee and is designed to streamline the FOIA request process for ordinary citizens. This particular request seeks information on taxpayer-funded research conducted by NASA scientists, and has been stalled for more than two years.

“Taxpayer funded research by NASA and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) concerning the warmest years on record has been the subject of dispute and after challenges, has been changed and re-released…As we consider policies on climate change which will impact our quality of life and economy for decades to come, we must have confidence in the data used to make these determinations. The data and the interactions of those responsible for its dissemination should be transparent and made available to the public,” the letter reads.

-The full text of the letter is below -
December 15, 2009

Ms. Miriam Nisbet
Director, Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
Room 2510
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

Dear Ms. Nisbet:
I write to direct your attention to a citizen’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request detailed in a December 3, 2009, article published in the Washington Times titled, “Global warming controversy reaches NASA climate data.” The article concerns a FOIA request made to NASA that has been languishing for over two years.

The requestor, Christopher C. Horner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, is seeking data and other information related to NASA’s global warming research. Mr. Horner has indicated that he intends to bring a lawsuit to compel the agency to release the information if he does not receive a satisfactory response before the end of this calendar year.

As you know, I am one of the authors of the legislation that created the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). OGIS was established to assist requestors like Mr. Horner by mediating their disputes with federal agencies in order to avoid litigation and, most importantly, to put the requested information in the hands of the citizens to whom it belongs.

Taxpayer funded research by NASA and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) concerning the warmest years on record has been the subject of dispute and after challenges, has been changed and re-released. What is less known is why the changes were made and what inherent flaws existed in the original data, if any. It is important to understand the reasons behind these alterations and further to avoid suspicion that data was massaged to fit the prescribed theory that global warming is attributable to man-made greenhouse gas emissions. As we consider policies on climate change which will impact our quality of life and economy for decades to come, we must have confidence in the data used to make these determinations. The data and the interactions of those responsible for its dissemination should be transparent and made available to the public.

I ask that you look into this matter and expeditiously provide the appropriate services to Mr. Horner.

Thank you for your continued service to the FOIA requestor community.

Sincerely,

/s/

5 Comments

CWJensen
12:36 pm CST
December 16, 2009

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE:
WALK YOUR LETTER OVER AND PERSONALLY PLACE IT IN THE HANDS OF Ms. Miriam Nisbet.
If your NOT physically capable of doing that make sure you send it certified mail delivered to the addressed personally with a return signed receipt.

I would also add a request that she reply within 5 days as to the result of her actions.

I am surprised if your staff is NOT capable of suggesting these options.

SJK
5:39 pm CST
December 16, 2009

I agree that Senator Cornyn should send this letter by certified mail and a return receipt request to make sure that Ms. Nisbet received it!

I like this action that Senator Cornyn took and hope he continues to take stands like this for his constituents and country! We are all watching you Senator Cornyn! Stand strong and be the backbone we need to represent us in Washington!

oldtexgal
10:27 pm CST
December 16, 2009

Go get ‘em, Sen. Cornyn! The entire Global Warming/Climate Change/Cap and Tax, scam was based on manipulated, and likely fraudulent data. Other radical environmental programs, which were also based on the IPCC pronouncements, and tainted Climate Research data from East Anglia and University of Pennsylvania, need to be suspended, until reliable research and conclusions are obtained. NO action whatever should be taken on ANY carbon emissions, in light of this fraud. The EPA MUST be stopped from imposing ANY regulation on carbon emissions until such time as the Supreme Court can revisit their ruling. The EPA furnished the Court, inadequate information on which to base its decision.

There is the distinct possibility that “Climate Change” has NOTHING to do with carbon emissions, or ANY human activity. CO2 is a natural occuring gas, essential to life on Earth, and composes only .04% of the atmosphere! Cap and Trade was the “brain child” of ENRON executives. Carbon dioxide was the gas of choice, because they couldn’t figure out how to control and tax water vapor…. the most prevalent greenhouse gas! This has never been about “saving the planet”… it’s about control and wealth redistribution… OUR wealth redistributed to Al Gore, CITI, Goldman Sachs, GE, heavily subsidized “Big Green”, and host of special interests……. not to mention the crippling control, regulation, and destruction of our vast coal, oil, shale, energy industries.

Cornyn is on the right track! I applaud his efforts. Those who back the scam will not give up their dreams of trillions of dollars of tax and consumer dollars easily. Stand tough! Demand the PROOF!

a dumas
8:37 am CST
December 16, 2009

Dream on, Sen. Cornyn. Although I applaud your efforts, does anyone actually believe that our government will release any data which might dispute the “settled” science of man-made climate change?

Read the Waxman-Markey bill and find that there is no actual reduction of greenhouse gases for the next 35 years. The obvious purpose is to create a new source of government revenue – there is nothing in this bill which could possibly be construed as a “cure” for the fabrication of impending doom by the eco-warriors.

But don’t worry. The handful of scientists that benefit through climate change research grants have reviewed the data among themselves, and have found it to be irrefutable. All we have to do is have a bit of faith…after all, when has our government every been less than honest with us?

MikeH
10:59 am CST
December 16, 2009

Glad to see Cornyn doing his job, but the entire GOP better wake up and understand they are not doing battle with the same old democrat party, but an entire radical element that is out to destroy the country for an failed ideology, Marxism. This is the reality of the situation. We are literally in a “street fight” with these people.