Lawmakers take strings off nuclear defense money

The state Interim Finance Committee agreed Tuesday to take the strings off the money lawmakers approved to battle the Yucca Mountain nuclear dump project.

Two years ago, the state tied the more than $3 million appropriation to private-sector contributions and ordered any money left returned to the general fund effective July 1 this year.

Former Attorney General Brian McKay said the Nevada Protection Fund's expiration date should be eliminated. And he asked that the efforts to fight locating the dump in Southern Nevada be able to access the money without raising more private matching funds.

"We raised $2 million," he said, adding that he doubts much more can be raised.

IFC approved the changes, leaving the money available to pay litigation costs to try block the dump.