Obama joins call to help Fermilab

The fight for more Fermilab funding gained a little star power Friday when Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, in his role as a U.S. Senator from Illinois, joined the chorus of politicians lobbying on the Batavia lab's behalf.

In a letter to the federal the Office of Management and Budget, Obama, Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Judy Biggert requested additional funding for the facility in fiscal 2009. It appears to be too late to halt layoffs and other cuts the lab must make to overcome a shortfall in the proposed 2008 budget soon to be signed by President Bush.

"These cuts could cripple Fermilab's ability to remain one of the world's preeminent research facilities," the officials wrote. "Disruptive funding shortfalls have ripple effects throughout the American scientific community, displacing today's scientists and discouraging tomorrow's."

Their lobbying effort comes a day after officials at the high-energy physics laboratory announced plans to lay off 200 workers and halt its research work on a multi-billion dollar international project. Fermi officials said they hoped to receive $372 million for fiscal 2008, which began Oct. 1, but instead stand to get just $320 million.

Fermi is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Lead by Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke and Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, local mayors came together Thursday to urge federal lawmakers to enact supplemental funding early next year.

Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, represents the neighboring 13th Congressional District. The early retirement of U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert, a Plano Republican, last month left the area without a congressional representative.

"We are really very encouraged at the response that we've gotten from the Illinois delegation," Fermi spokeswoman Judy Jackson said.