YUCCA FACTS

Nevada Sen. John Ensign and other elected Republicans in the state continue their lock-step opposition to Yucca Mountain, but as you’ll see from this note from Mark Feest, that sentiment doesn’t run universally throughout the GOP’s grassroots…

Dear Chuck: As the chairman of the Churchill County Republican Central Committee I frequently take the opportunity to discuss the perceived hot button issues with many people in our rural northern Nevada community. I have consistently found a lack of concern or opposition to Yucca Mountain irrespective of whether I am talking with a Republican, Democrat or independent. What I mostly hear is an opposition to the project being forced upon Nevada without compensation. Consistent with what I have heard in passing discussions, the Churchill County Republicans unanimously passed the following plank during our 2008 convention.

21. We support further exploration and licensing of Yucca Mountain for the purpose of storing nuclear waste and for the State of Nevada and affected counties to receive reasonable compensation for the transportation and storage of such waste.

I was very disappointed that the state party platform contains several planks that are simply feel good mom-and-apple-pie statements, while the above plank did not even get an up-or-down vote opportunity.

As an aside, during a recent conversation with a McCain representative in Nevada I noted that rural Nevada, and specifically Churchill County Republicans, does not quite line up with some of the positions McCain has taken in the past. I further suggested that since McCain has already come out in favor of Yucca Mountain that he take the lead on championing adequate compensation for the State of Nevada with respect to the nuclear waste depository.