nuclear-news

USA Republican presidential candidates’ opposing each other on nuclear wastes

Candidates can’t come to Nevada, which is fifth in line with its Feb. 4 caucus, without being quizzed about how they feel about the state becoming the nation’s nuclear dumping ground.

Nuclear waste politics seep into Republican presidential race, Oregon Live.com , November 03, 2011, By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian The Reno News & Review provides a useful summary of the politics roiling around the nuclear waste issue after Republican presidential
candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Perry said they opposed opening a national waste repository at Nevada’s Yucca Mountain.

Their stance — which was perhaps not surprising since they made their statements at in a GOP debate in Las Vegas — has worried fellow Republicans in Washington and South Carolina, two other states with big nuclear waste problems that want Yucca Mountain opened.

It also blunts Republican criticism of President Barack Obama’s opposition to Yucca Mountain. If nothing else, it’s all a splendid example of the power of holding
an early primary or caucus.  Candidates can’t come to Nevada, which is fifth in line with its Feb. 4 caucus, without being quizzed about how they feel about the state becoming the nation’s nuclear dumping ground.

Obama early on in his own presidential candidacy assured Nevadans he would oppose the Yucca Mountain site and his administration eventually cut off funding for its development.

In addition to Romney and Perry, Rep. Ron Paul also said during the
debate that he opposed the Nevada site.  Former House Speaker Newt
Gingrich said he would support it. Greenvilleonline.com, a South
Carolina media outlet, polled the other candidates and found that
former Sen. Rick Santorum favored the Nevada site and former Utah Gov.
Jon Huntsman was against.  Herman Cain and Rep. Michelle Bachmann
didn’t respond.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2011/11/nuclear_waste_politics_seep_in.html

November 4, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized