David Cay Johnston: “if one would pick this issue based on personalities I would never have been involved in the nuclear waste debate because…”

“if one would pick this issue based on personalities I would never have been involved in the nuclear waste debate because my two colleagues from the State of Nevada are two of the most popular Senators, two of my best friends, and two of the most capable Senators in this body. But the fact of the matter is, Mr. President, I began working on nuclear waste in 1979 when I introduced the first bill. I believe that was before my two colleagues even came to the Senate. And I did so because, Mr. President, it is a problem that the Nation must solve. And it fell my lot as a member of the Energy Committee, and as chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, to deal with this very troublesome issue. Today we find ourselves, Mr. President, with about 40,000 metric tons of nuclear waste spread around 34 States in this country, and it cries out for solution. And every year, Mr. President, we hear, ``Don't do it this year. This is an election year.'' You hear this privately. ``It is an election year. One of my colleagues is up.'' It is always an election year. Either one of my two colleagues from Nevada or the President is up for election. And there is always some reason to put it off. But, Mr. President, we have spent $5 billion on this issue of nuclear waste. And we are nowhere near getting it solved.”