Political Quotes

“Mr. President, it is fair to reflect on where we are. Today the Senate is going to decide whether the Secretary of Energy should be allowed to make an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the use of Yucca Mountain as a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. That is the only issue before this body. The Senate today is not--I repeat, is not--deciding whether science and engineering are sufficient for the Yucca Mountain site to be operated safely and in compliance with EPA and other agency regulations. That is really the job of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We have had a lot of discussion. Some of the discussion is associated with fear. I have looked for a synonym for red herring. I do not know if fluorescent herring is as close as we are going to get. In any event, we have to deal with this in a responsible manner. Let me share with my colleagues what some of the public opinionmakers have said. I quote from the New York Times. This is July 9, ``A Critical Vote on Nuclear Waste.'' It says: Any Senator tempted to vote against the resolution must recognize the severe consequences. A nay vote or a failure to vote means that Yucca Mountain is effectively dead and the nation must start anew to look for a disposal solution.”