Giuliani supports increased space budget

Troubled by low rankings in polls, Rudy Giuliani has announced support for a NASA budget increase, a move sure to find favor in Brevard County.

"This is the first candidate willing to increase NASA's budget," said State Rep. Thad Altman, Giuliani's state campaign co-chairman. "That's going to help us bridge the gap."

As the shuttle program ends in 2010, Brevard County could lose thousands of jobs during the "gap" between the shuttle and NASA's next rocket program, called Constellation.

Giuliani has boldly gone where few Republican presidential candidates are willing to tread - budget increases. However, he points out that NASA's budget is less than 1 percent of the nation's spending.

"An increase would do wonders without affecting 99 percent of the federal budget," he wrote in an statement that will be published in Saturday's FLORIDA TODAY. "That's the fiscally conservative approach: getting a good return on your dollar."

Representatives of Brevard's space industry met with Giuliani and rival Mitt Romney last week to explain the economic crisis facing NASA and its possible effect on the local economy and national security.

Giuliani has been the first to respond with promises of increased funding.

"Perfect," said Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.

The EDC has courted all presidential candidates, hoping to make the case that supporting the space industry helps the national economy and national security. They hope other candidates follow Giuliani.

"It's good for us, but the argument is broader than that," said Weatherman. "We want them to address space policy on a national platform."

Giuliani is willing to raise the budget for space because he sees it as vital to national security, said Mark Albrecht, senior policy adviser to Giuliani.

"It's critical that the U.S. continue to protect those areas in which we have a critical advantage," he said.

Giuliani would also continue to help open space to businesses.

"The enormous federal infrastructure needs to be made friendly to commercial enterprise," said Albrecht.