How Brian Schatz Is Becoming The Senate's Chief Science Nerd

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON — Brian Schatz didn’t start out as a science nerd.

After attending Punahou School and then majoring in philosophy at Pomona College in California, he returned to the islands, ultimately becoming an influential figure in Democratic politics, and spent nearly a decade as the CEO of Helping Hands, one of Hawaii’s largest nonprofit social services agencies.

But since he joined the U. S. Senate in 2012, Schatz has emerged as a prominent national voice on technology and the environment, pushing for bipartisan consensus in contentious areas.

He has become a fierce advocate for telemedicine, the environment, net neutrality and data security — topics that make many people’s eyes glaze over. Taking on complex topics that others choose to avoid has become an important way the Hawaii Democrat can make a difference in a legislative chamber dominated by Republicans.

Supporters said he learns the nuances of difficult topics through diligent efforts to understand various political perspectives. Internet expert Gene Kimmelman, president and chief executive officer of Public Knowledge, a nonprofit group that supports an open internet, described Schatz’s approach to Civil Beat in an email:

Like all issues, he seems to approach tech policy by carefully studying the issues and talking extensively to all relevant stakeholders to make sure he knows all the facts. He’s one of the most studious and conscientious members of the Senate who cares passionately about freedom of expression and consumer protection.

Read more: http://www.civilbeat.org/2017/11/how-brian-schatz-is-becoming-the-senates-chief-science-nerd/