Welcome to Tuesday, September 10th, metric and imperial systems...

NOAA's chief scientist will investigate why the agency backed Trump over its own experts regarding Hurricane Dorian.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s acting chief scientist, Craig McLean, said he plans on investigating whether the agency violated ethical and policy standards by backing President Donald Trump's incorrect assertion that Alabama "would most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated."

Soon after Trump made his comment on September 1st, the Birmingham, Alabama, NOAA office refuted the president's claim:

But on September 6th, the NOAA issued an unsigned statement defending Trump's week-long assertions that he was correct about Dorian threatening Alabama, writing "[t]he Birmingham National Weather Service’s Sunday morning tweet spoke in absolute terms that were inconsistent with probabilities from the best forecast products available at the time."

In an email obtained by the Washington Post, McLean told staff the agency's response was “political” and a “danger to public health and safety.”

"My understanding is that this intervention to contradict the forecaster was not based on science but on external factors including reputation and appearance, or simply put, political," McLean wrote. "If the public cannot trust our information, or we debase our forecaster’s warnings and products, that specific danger arises," McLean said.

Should the NOAA investigate why the agency backed Trump's Alabama Dorian claims?

On the Radar

California May Restrict 'Gig Economy'

The California legislature may soon approve a controversial bill that would restrict companies from classifying workers in “gig economy” jobs as independent contractors to avoid paying the benefits they’d be owed as employees.

If it’s enacted, several companies that rely on independent contractors — namely Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash — have pledged $90 million for a ballot measure that would repeal the bill.

Those in favor of the bill argue that corporations are exploiting workers by classifying workers as independent contractors to avoid paying them a minimum wage, payroll taxes, and providing other workplace protections.

Critics contend that workers choose to take jobs as independent contractors rather than employees because of the flexibility to work whenever, wherever, and for whomever they choose.

Do you support or oppose restricting the classification of workers as independent contractors?

Committee Watch

Before bills and nominations are brought up for a passage vote in Congress, they typically have to be considered and approved by relevant committees.

We take a thorough look at the hearings Congressional committees will be holding this week in our Committee Watch, but here are a few we're watching extra closely:

• Today, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to markup up six bills, including three gun control bills.
• Also today, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing titled “A $1.5 Trillion Crisis: Protecting Student Borrowers and Holding Student Loan Servicers Accountable”.
• On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up appropriation bills regarding: Defense; Energy & Water; State & Foreign Operations; Labor, Health and Human Services; and Education.

How do you feel about this week's committee hearings?

Under the Radar

Porch Pirating

Texas porch pirates beware: stealing packages is a felony in the Lone Star state as of September 1st.

HB 37 made stealing anything that can be considered mail a felony, including letters, postcards, packages, and other sealed items. Also included under the law is mail that has been left to be collected for delivery.

 “They’re looking at time so it’s definitely a deterrent,” Texas state Rep. Ina Minjarez (D-San Antonio) told KSAT. “All of our mail here in this building, we get hit several times. It’s a problem everywhere."

Molly, an Austin resident who didn’t provide her last name, told the local Fox affiliate she was "[h]appy to hear it is a felony [but] I don’t know if that will deter anyone from doing it, but I hope it does. We’ll see."

Should package theft be a felony?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should Federal Agencies Develop Strategies to Reduce Their Energy Usage?