This is
not unique.
The Republicans' problem is that most of the issues they have that get their voting base fired up are "moral" issues which are essentially religious in nature. Their base is still small enough that they have to make arguments which don't rely on religion alone, but there are no other arguments. So they have to make up some "scientific" studies to support their ideology.
Most of the other issues they have are the ones that energize their donating base - large corporate interests. These issues are usually irrelevant or harmful to anybody but the corporate interests, so they have to make up a "scientific" study to deflect complaints.
Democrats pander to their bases as well, but they usually don't have to corrupt research studies to do so.