House Republicans outmaneuvered Democrats last week, blocking funds for scientific research and education.

A parliamentary maneuver enabled a minority to defeat a three-year, $40-billion program. The loss could jeopardize funding for basic research through the National Science Foundation and at federal laboratories.

It also risks funding cuts for science, technology, engineering and math education ”“ an important investment toward improving American competitiveness.

The America COMPETES program, an initiative of President George W. Bush, was approved in 2007 with bipartisan support in Congress. It aims to strengthen the U.S. economy through scientific and technical advances, and by developing new approaches to education.

This year, Republicans balked at the cost of the program, but it had already been cut back from $85 billion to $40 billion. It has  been widely endorsed by business and academic groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Government-funded research has led the way into many new commercial sectors, with the development of transistors, semiconductors, lasers and the Internet. Seed money will always be needed for the next innovation. Yet as President Obama noted last month in a speech to the National Academy of Sciences, federal funding for science has dropped by half in the last 25 years as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product.

House Republicans have used a variety of maneuvers to stall reauthorization of  this important program. Fortunately, Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, said the committee will continue to press for approval.

“Innovation leads to economic development and good-paying jobs,” he said. “Creating good jobs is the goal of this bill, and it is what our country needs right now.”

— Comments? Questions? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven by calling 282-1535, Ext. 327, or via e-mail at nickc@journaltribune.com.