Platform changes GOP's Yucca policy

RENO - The Republican Party effectively gave up the fight to block Yucca Mountain on Saturday, voting to include two planks in the platform which soften opposition to construction of the dump and call on the state to get as much money for it as possible.

Neither of the planks mentions Yucca Mountain by name. They were inserted instead of an earlier proposal which did.

The first plank supports enforcement of environmental regulations to solve scientifically demonstrated problems using methods which have undergone peer review and consider property rights and the economies of affected communities.

The second urges the state to negotiate with the federal government to minimize the effects of federal control and use of lands in Nevada.

Delegates from outside Clark County said it was time the state realized Yucca Mountain is coming and Nevada should work to ensure the state and local governments affected by it get as much money as possible.

The planks constitute a major change in party policy, which has for years matched the Democratic Party's adamant opposition to dumping nuclear waste in Nevada.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said he and the rest of Nevada's congressional delegation oppose the planks. He said the delegation have all worked hard for years to stop the Department of Energy's push to build Yucca Mountain and that the platform could weaken their arguments in Congress.

"I've always opposed Yucca Mountain," he said. "I do not think it's a good idea to ever give the inference of negotiating."

His comment was similar to reactions from Gov. Kenny Guinn and Attorney General Brian Sandoval.

"We're still at a very critical point and negotiations should not be held while we're in court," said Guinn.

"It could create at least some thought in Washington that there is some sympathy in Nevada," said Sandoval. "I have been to the White House. I have made it absolutely clear that I will not vacillate."

His office said Nevada currently has six lawsuits pending to try block the nuclear dump project.

The platform sparked intense debate especially after Platform Committee Vice Chairman William Schaeffer of Lander County moved to adopt it and Chairman Bob Seale said the rules prohibited debate or amendment.

Mike Weber of Washoe County said those rules were "purposely put in by whomever for the purpose of shutting down any debate."

Nearly a dozen delegates rose to object saying they were prevented from arguing their points of view in the platform committee and were told they could do so on the convention floor.

The Democratic Party included a plank in its platform two weeks ago which continues its adamant opposition to federal efforts to bring high level nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The site is the only place under consideration for the world's first high-level nuclear waste repository.

The more than 200 delegates on the floor at the GOP convention voted to change the rules and open debate on the platform plank by plank.

But the controversial issues turned out not to be Yucca Mountain. Delegates instead wanted to debate planks dealing with illegal immigration, parental choice in education and one which appeared in Saturday morning's version of the platform opposing taxpayer funding for abortions.

In the end, the convention accepted all those planks despite objections from some members.

The immigration platform calls for proof of citizenship to register to vote and opposes allowing illegal immigrants to have any benefits of citizenship.

"I'm sorry they're not Republicans but maybe it's because of our exclusionary attitudes," said Dorothy Kosich of Washoe County. The vast majority of the 292 delegates voted to keep the plank.

The same was true of the abortion plank, parental choice and a call for tort reform limiting damages to actual damages and minimizing punitive damages.

And after adding the abortion funding plank, the delegates voted to add a more traditional plank respecting the life of the unborn along with the disabled and seniors.

Contact Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.