US President Barack Obama Requests US$66.8-billion for Federal Science Spending. (February 16, 2011)

President Barack Obama, spruiking his strategy of "winning the future" by investing in research, innovation and education, has included in his 2012 budget request to the US Congress a designated US$66.8-billion for federal science spending. That's an average increase of 6% over current funding.

While the President's science advisor, John Holdren says the budget: "contains more for science than many would have thought possible." However the request will be up against  Republican House of Representatives domination, who are calling massive cuts to all discretionary  government spending.

Neal Lane a physicist at Rice University was director of the US National Science Foundation from 1993–98 during the Democrat Clinton administration. His comment: "It's going to be bloody."

Patrick Clemins, a science-policy analyst and director of the research and development budget and policy programme at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is more sanguine.  He told NatureNews that the differences between President Obama and Republican leaders in the House are clear — but perhaps not as large as is sometimes assumed. "I think basic research is strongly supported by both sides," but how much the government should be engaged in fostering innovation -- Republicans are inclined to let the private sector drive it forward.

Dr Holdren, however, sees the budget as being even-handed:  "This is neither top down nor bottom up but both. This is a matter of unleashing the innovation potential that is in our society by drawing on all levels and getting them to work together." Whether or not the House will see it so remains to be seen.

The charts below taken from NatureNews gives a breakdown of the President's requests and how they compare with previous outcomes.