The Office of Technology Assessment was created in 1972 so that Congress had its own stable of critical scientific expertise and wouldn't have to trust the Executive Branch's information. It consisted of 143 smart people—public servants all—who sat in a building on Pennsylvania Avenue about a 3 blocks from Congress working to both educate and enlighten our legislature about both the benefits and hazards of technology. Part of their mission was to think long-term—everything from health care to energy alternatives. Of course, much of its work had an impact on defense matters and the beginning of the end came when some Defense Dept. missile defense fans ganged up with the conservative Heritage Foundation and lambasted OTA for issuing a critical report on their favored program. OTA was cheap help, costing around 21 million a year –and all reports were vetted by six Dems six Republicans. This organization and its invaluable memory were wiped out by the Contract with America in 1994.
An interesting article.
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