Republicans added language promoting space to their 2000 National Convention Platform last week, including a claim to boosting NASA's fortunes with stronger oversight. The move may set up a first for recent Presidential campaign history-dueling political parties supporting increases for space activities. Democrats indicated that their platform committee meeting in Los Angeles in advance of next week's convention to nominate Vice President Al Gore Jr. may also insert strong, pro-space provisions.

How either party would translate the good intentions of the platform into new space policy has yet to be clear, however.

Nearly every element of the space program received raves in the GOP's language. A section adopted unanimously by the convention delegates called for increases to space research and development efforts, improving access to space, and bolstering plans for the eventual exploration of Mars by astronauts. On Sunday July 30th former Reagan administration staffer Martin Anderson amended the space section to include language that called for a "stronger government space program" with increased oversight of NASA.

One delegate expressed criticisms of the addition, saying that "we Republicans are for less government-we should not be calling for a stronger government space program." The delegate also added that too much money was being spent on government space efforts. But space supporting delegates quickly hailed Anderson's amended language. Three delegates expressed support, with one saying "we need to strengthen our national space program to improve our competitiveness around the world." The addition was approved easily. The discussion on the space amendment was broadcast by C-SPAN July 30th during its coverage of the GOP Presidential nominating convention.

But while Republicans called for a stronger space program and advanced space goals, their primary space emphasis remained in the commercial space area. The party said it looked upon space programs as a "growing economic resource."

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