Science Committee Chairman retiring

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, who wielded influence as a centrist Republican pushing environmental and New York causes, announced Friday he will retire after nearly a quarter-century in office, Gannett News Service's John Machacek reports.`It's time,'' said Boehlert, who turns 70 in September and is in the final year of his term as chairman of the House Science Committee. ``I have worked long and hard and, I think, effectively. Now I want to do some other things.''As chairman of the House Science Committee with oversight of NASA programs, Boehlert was known for seeking solutions rather than confrontation.
His tenure was marked by a willingness to both support and challenge the space agency.
In December, Boehlert's tenacity paid off when Congress passed a two-year NASA authorization bill. It was the first NASA policy bill to clear Congress in five years.
This year, Boehlert has taken the lead in questioning the Bush administration's request to cut spending on science projects within the NASA budget.