House GOP cuts would slash LI lab jobs

Is Brookhaven National Lab likely to lose jobs in the budget-cutting environment in Washington?

Quite possibly, lab officials and some supporters say, if a measure by Republican members of the House to sharply slash spending for science and technology programs becomes law.

Republicans want to reduce a spiraling federal deficit they say threatens the country. But the impact could cost the loss of "several hundred jobs" at the lab in Upton, the facility's deputy director, Doon Gibbs said Friday.

Gibbs warned of possible job cuts in a brief interview Friday, after the lab held its first-ever State of the Lab briefing for political figures, business leaders and the media.

The lab presented a report, "Meeting National Needs, Creating Opportunities for Growth," conducted by a Manhattan-based consulting firm, Appleseed Inc. The report covered the fiscal 2009 year - Oct. 1, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009. Appleseed president Hugh O'Neill said the lab added about 300 jobs in the trying period of 2006-09. It currently employs about 3,000 people. The report predicts modest growth to 2014.

But, O'Neill said, he would now add the word "potential" to growth because of the fierce budget battles. Gibbs was unable to say how many jobs might be lost, or in what sections of the lab, but predicted "several hundred" if the current House version of funding is approved.

House Republicans would cut $1.1 billion from the Energy Department's Office of Science. BNL gets more than 90 percent of its funding from that office.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in published news reports, "The House is doing its part to cut spending. It's time for the [Democrat-controlled] Senate to take action as well."

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), who was at the lab Friday, said, "This is a budget I find impossible to support."