Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) is admittedly not a big fan nor a believer in some of the most central tenets of science, but that shouldn't be a reason to cost him his seat on the House Science Committee, his staff recently told U.S. News.
Earlier this year, video leaked of the congressman explaining to a group of sportsmen gathered at a Georgia church that evolution and the big bang theory were "lies straight from the pit of Hell." He proceeded to state his belief that the earth was "about 9,000 years old" and "created in six days as we know them," according to the Bible.
Broun drew widespread criticism from the scientific community after the release of his remarks. It even earned him an ultimately unsuccessful write-in electoral challenge from one "Charles Darwin," the long-deceased father of evolutionary theory. According to Broun spokeswoman Meredith Griffanti, however, they're not worried that those views reflect similar concerns from his Republican colleagues in charge of making committee assignments.
"Congressman Broun intends to return to the Science Committee providing his waiver to serve on three committees is extended," she told U.S. News on Monday. "We expect to know by the end of the week."
While Broun could be taking his anti-science views back to the House committee tasked with handling issues of science, another controversial Republican member of that group definitely won't be.
Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), who sparked national backlash for his comments about victims of so-called "legitimate rape" victims having supposed natural methods to block pregnancies, was defeated in his quest for Senate after opting not to run for reelection to his House seat.
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