Spencer Cox: “Just a few weeks ago, Mr. Chairman, the Los Angeles Times published an article with the lead, ``Warning to American…”

“Just a few weeks ago, Mr. Chairman, the Los Angeles Times published an article with the lead, ``Warning to American Taxpayers: Without knowing it, you may soon take on responsibility for what could be billions of dollars in liability stemming from nuclear accidents in, of all places, North Korea.'' The article continued: ``The Clinton administration is quietly weighing a policy change that would make the United States Government the insurer of last resort for any disasters at the civilian nuclear plants being built for the North Korean regime. But the Clinton administration is reluctant to seek a new law from the Republican Congress. That roadblock has sent administration lawyers scurrying through the United States Code, and they have found an obscure law that might be used in a new way.'' The article concludes: ``Presto, one little legal reinterpretation by the administration, and one huge new legal liability for American taxpayers.''”