Paul Cook votes to Gag Independent Expert Review of Environmental Policy Decisions

Paul Cook on November 18, 2014 voted "yes" on HR 1422  [called the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013]. It passed 229-191 (the usual Boehner led majority).
.
In what might be the most ridiculous aspect of H.R. 1422 is that the bill forbids scientific experts from participating in “advisory activities” that either directly or indirectly involve their own work. In case that wasn’t clear: experts would be forbidden from sharing their expertise in their own research — the bizarre assumption, apparently, being that having conducted peer-reviewed studies on a topic would constitute a conflict of interest. “In other words,” wrote Union of Concerned Scientists director Andrew A. Rosenberg in an editorial for RollCall, “academic scientists who know the most about a subject can’t weigh in, but experts paid by corporations who want to block regulations can.”HR 1422 would shake up the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board, placing restrictions on scientists sharing their expertise in their own research--kinda defeating the purpose of being an expert on the panel!
 .
What the legislation would do is allow.... experts with overt financial ties to the industries affected by EPA regulations to dominate the EPA Scientific Board.
.
The White House, which threatened to veto the bill, said it would “negatively affect the appointment of experts and would weaken the scientific independence and integrity of the SAB [the EPA Scientific Advisory Board].”
.
Bob Conaway, a local community activist "condemns Paul Cook's ongoing attack on environmental oversight and review for his corporate buds. Isn't it enough the Koch Brothers can spend unlimited funds on campaigns and lobbying and gag the environmental independence of our best and brightest? Paul Cook just voted to give the keys to the henhouse to the Koches."