Mike Garcia and George Whitesides clash over bipartisanship and NASA funding

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Photo Source: Congressional campaigns of Mike Garcia and George Whitesides

Space and Politics Clash: Garcia fumes over possible layoffs at NASA caused by GOP gridlock, while Whitesides says Garcia has a record of putting partisanship over community

Mar 28, 2024 - As the race for California’s 27^th Congressional district heats up, incumbent Republican Mike Garcia is making moves at bipartisanship. Garcia’s Democratic opponent George Whitesides has big credentials when it comes to space and NASA. Whitesides was the Chief-of-Staff at NASA under President Barack Obama, and he is the former CEO of Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s space tourism company.

The Republican-held House of Representatives has struggled to fund the government in recent years, often resorting to short-term stop-gap measures to keep the government running for a few months at a time. With many in the GOP conference wanting to allow the U.S. Government to default on its loans (which economists predict would devastate the U.S. economy), Congress has had to rely on continuing resolutions (CR) to fund the government a few months at a time.

Mike Garcia decided to join Representatives Judy Chu and Adam Schiff, in sending a bipartisan letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, urging for the complete funding of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program. This important initiative has garnered support from 20 other Members of Congress from California.

The MSR is a key program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), based in Pasadena. With its rich legacy in aerospace engineering and space exploration, JPL stands as a cornerstone of scientific innovation in the region. JPL also provides jobs in northern Los Angeles County, which is where all three members of Congress have their districts. The letter highlights efforts from these three members of Congress to ensure that NASA allocates sufficient funding to ensure the timely completion of the MSR mission and prevent the loss of jobs in the region.

While not acknowledging the difficulty that many government agencies have had with no long-term funding agreements while Republicans have been in control of the House, the lawmakers emphasized what they say is the crucial role of the MSR mission in advancing scientific knowledge and strategic priorities. They said that Congress had resoundingly endorsed MSR as the top priority within the Planetary Sciences division, as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The letter emphasized the bipartisan consensus among lawmakers in supporting MSR and urged NASA to commit a minimum of $650 million to the project.

The legislators said that they were unhappy with NASA's decision to proceed with workforce reductions before the enactment of the fiscal year 2024 bill, which would negatively impact jobs and the economy in Los Angeles County. They stated that the repercussions of further delays, including increased costs, heightened risks, and potential advantages for international competitors like China in the race to retrieve samples from Mars. NASA had warned in 2023 that they would be required to cut staff and funding to certain programs due to the short-term funding under the continuing resolutions (CR) from the GOP-led House.

In an email to supporters on Mar 26, 2024, congressional candidate George Whitesides launched a scathing critique against incumbent Representative Mike Garcia, highlighting Garcia's staunch allegiance to the Republican Party over the interests of the community. Whitesides, who previously served as NASA Chief of Staff under President Obama, emphasized the importance of prioritizing problem-solving over partisan politics, drawing upon his experience in the nonpartisan environment of NASA.

Reflecting on his tenure as Chief-of-Staff at NASA, Whitesides emphasized the need to cooperate and collaborate with colleagues regardless of political affiliations. "At NASA, it was never about self-interest and party politics," Whitesides remarked. "Did we have our differences? Sure. But we worked together to solve problems and move the country forward."

Whitesides criticized Garcia's record, accusing him of consistently putting party loyalty over the needs of the communities that he represents. Whitesides highlighted several contentious votes and issue stances by Garcia, including his support for a national abortion ban despite opposition from the majority of the district. He also pointed out Garcia's vote for a pay raise for himself, a move that contrasts sharply with the financial struggles faced by many constituents.

"He's voted in lock-step with the GOP, even when it's against our community's best interests," Whitesides asserted.

As the race heats up in California's 27th Congressional District, Whitesides' critique serves as a rallying cry for voters seeking representation that transcends party lines and prioritizes the well-being of the community. With the November elections on the horizon, the choice between party loyalty and community advocacy looms large for constituents in the district.