This was published today in the world’s leading scientific journal Science.  My thanks to my friend Jim in New York for bringing this to my attention.

Science - 24 October 2008
Vol. 322. no. 5901, pp. 518 - 519

News Focus
SCIENCE AND THE 2008 CAMPAIGN

In Brief: Where They Stand on Science Policy

At the risk of oversimplifying these complex topics, the news staff of Science has boiled down what Senators John McCain and Barack Obama have said during the long campaign about some three dozen important issues

National Security
RATIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY
•McCain: No
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No

WAYS TO FOSTER BIODEFENSE RESEARCH
•McCain: Research on production and detectors
•Obama: “More agile” drug development and production
•Bush: Implemented Bioshield program
Education
REAUTHORIZE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT
•McCain: Improve it
•Obama: Fix it
•Bush: Yes

KEY STEPS TO IMPROVE STEM EDUCATION
•McCain: Teacher bonuses, online courses
•Obama: Recruit and retain teachers, improve assessment
•Bush: Math Now, AP courses

SUPPORT TEACHING INTELLIGENT DESIGN IN SCHOOL
•McCain: Students should get “all points of view” but “probably not” in science class
•Obama: No
•Bush: Yes
Health
ADDRESS RISE IN AUTISM
•McCain: Expand research and screening
•Obama: Expand research and screening
•Bush: No specific plan

SUPPORT ABSTINENCE-ONLY SEX EDUCATION
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: No, only comprehensive education
•Bush: Yes

DEVELOP NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Never issued

SUPPORTS EMERGENCY AIDS FUND (PEPFAR)
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Yes
Environment
MODIFY THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
•McCain: Needs to be more cost-effective and efficient
•Obama: No
•Bush: Backed unsuccessful 2005 attempt

ALTER THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA)
•McCain: Yes, restrict “abuses” that lead to delays
•Obama: No
•Bush: Has tried to limit review of major projects

TIGHTEN AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS TO WHAT EXPERTS RECOMMEND
•McCain: Not necessarily; base standards on sound economics and science
•Obama: Yes, let scientists, not politicians, set standards
•Bush: Not necessarily

RETAIN CLINTON BAN ON ROADS IN SENSITIVE PARTS OF NATIONAL FORESTS
•McCain: Opposes “one-size-fits-all” approach
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Has tried unsuccessfully to undo the ban
Innovation
MAKE R&D TAX CREDIT PERMANENT
•McCain: Yes, tied to wages
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Yes

FEDERAL INCENTIVES TO SPUR INNOVATION
•McCain: $300 million battery prize
•Obama: $10 billion/yr. clean-tech venture capital fund
•Bush: American Competitiveness Initiative

CREATE A TWO-TIER PATENT SYSTEM
•McCain: No
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No
Government Reform
E-GOVERNMENT POLICIES
•McCain: Create electronic government office
•Obama: Appoint chief technology officer
•Bush: Improve efficiency

ELIMINATE CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: No
•Bush: No

RESTORE INTEGRITY TO SCIENCE-BASED POLICIES
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Defends record
Basic Research
FULLY FUND AMERICA COMPETES ACT
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Yes

INCREASE NIH BUDGET SIGNIFICANTLY
•McCain: No firm number
•Obama: Double over 10 years
•Bush: No

EXPAND NUMBER OF FEDERALLY APPROVED STEM CELL LINES
•McCain: Supports stem cell research
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No

ALLOW RESEARCH CLONING
•McCain: No
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No
Immigration
MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOREIGN PH.D.S TO STAY
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No

INCREASE NUMBER OF H-1B VISAS
•McCain: Adjustments tied to market conditions
•Obama: Supports temporary boost
•Bush: No
Energy
CARBON SEQUESTRATION R&D FOR COAL PLANTS
•McCain: Spend $2 billion a year
•Obama: Tap a $150 billion “green technologies fund”
•Bush: $139 million for demonstration projects

EXPAND DEMONSTRATIONS FOR REPROCESSING NUCLEAR FUEL
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: No
•Bush: Yes

STORE NUCLEAR WASTE IN YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: No
•Bush: Yes

REDUCTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS VIA CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEM
•McCain: 60% of 1990 levels by 2050
•Obama: 80% of 1990 levels by 2050
•Bush: No mandatory targets

PAY FOR GREENHOUSE POLLUTION CREDITS UNDER CAP AND TRADE
•McCain: Companies receive credits, free initially
•Obama: Companies pay through auction
•Bush: Opposes mandatory cap and trade
Space
EXTEND SPACE STATION OPERATIONS BEYOND 2016
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No

RETURN HUMANS TO THE MOON
•McCain: Yes
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: Yes

REESTABLISH NATIONAL SPACE AND AERONAUTICS COUNCIL
•McCain: No position
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No

FLY THE AMS ON THE SHUTTLE
•McCain: No position
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No

BUILD NEW GENERATION OF ROBOTIC SPACECRAFT
•McCain: No position
•Obama: Yes
•Bush: No plans

Source
SCIENCE VOL 322 24 OCTOBER 2008
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/322/5901/518.pdf