house Bill H.R. 1162
Should the Private Sector get to Contribute $$ to Federal Science Prize Competitions?
Argument in favor
Prize competitions are a great incentive for attracting participation in areas where innovation is needed. Partnering with the private sector will help make the competitions more enticing to participants.
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05/19/2015
As long as the awards are done on a non-biased matter and there is no further incentive, then a combination of efforts with the government and private sector can be successful.
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05/20/2015
Partnering with private sectors provide an incentive not always available in the government's capacity. This would be a great attractor to drive in innovation within these vital fields.
05/20/2015
I mostly gag on public-private-"partnership" stuff, but it seems that if it's a prize contribution, but not a voice on what wins nor any sorts of privileged access to associated work, seems kind of palatable to me
Argument opposed
The federal government should probably re-assess some of its appropriations requests if its going to start outsourcing R&D activities. Also, a public website with federal science competitions already exists: Challenge.Gov
05/23/2015
Eventually, the prizes will be given to the winners based on political reasons. The private sector does not need federal funding--it gets enough of that as it is.
05/29/2015
This scarcely needs legislation. Business can reward independently unless legally prohibited.
As long as the awards are done on a non-biased matter and there is no further incentive, then a combination of efforts with the government and private sector can be successful.
Eventually, the prizes will be given to the winners based on political reasons. The private sector does not need federal funding--it gets enough of that as it is.
This scarcely needs legislation. Business can reward independently unless legally prohibited.
Partnering with private sectors provide an incentive not always available in the government's capacity. This would be a great attractor to drive in innovation within these vital fields.
Yes innovation should be rewarded in it purest form and America a nation built in innovation should support and honor those above other entrepreneurs.
I mostly gag on public-private-"partnership" stuff, but it seems that if it's a prize contribution, but not a voice on what wins nor any sorts of privileged access to associated work, seems kind of palatable to me
It's the private sector that re-investing in space travel and other cutting edge technologies, having them incorporated in scientific contests is good for the nation.
The private sector is good. The private sector is what has and will continue to make our country feat!
Seriously, letting corporations contribute to competitions is like letting corporations giving huge sums of money to political candidates: it may not decide the winner but it will certainly limit the competition
Why not? The federal government doesn't do a good job of creating much of anything these days. Let the private sector have some room to run.
If private sources exist for this then why has it risen to a Federal preoccupation?
This looks like an opportunity for vote buying or influence peddling. Any time money passes hands, some-one is going to figure out a way to get their hands on some of it, to which they are not entitled.