Nuke industry lobbyists party with key politicians

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 11:08 a.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- The nuclear power industry's influential lobbying arm on Wednesday pitched in to throw a 2,000-person bash for Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, a leading advocate in Congress of a plan to bury the nation's nuclear waste in Nevada.

The event was one of more than 450 being held here this week during the Republican National Convention, a key opportunity for lobbyists and politicians to mix and mingle.

Guests at "America's Energy Texas Barbeque" enjoyed Texas brew Shiner Bock, margaritas and the strains of country western great Jerry Jeff Walker. The event was held at the 103rd Engineer's Armory, a cavernous building on the campus of Drexel University.

Oversized red, white and blue streamers stretching several stories from floor to ceiling were visible inside and green-painted wooden cacti greeted guests at the door.

"It's just a party to celebrate the convention, kick back and have some fun," Barton spokeswoman Samantha Jordan said.

Invitations were carefully checked and members of the media were turned away at the door. The party, which was not a fund-raiser, was thrown by Edison Electric Institute, the American Gas Association, the National Mining Association and the Washington-based Nuclear Energy Institute, which lobbies for the nuclear power industry.

Nevada's members in Congress say NEI has been a behind-the-scenes influence in the federal government's plan to store the nation's high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

"This (event) further amplifies the Texas connection to putting nuclear waste in Nevada," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "The Republican platform calls for shipping nuclear waste to Nevada. George W. Bush is a stalwart supporter of the nuclear power industry."

Scientists are still studying Yucca to determine if it is a safe site for waste. The Department of Energy proposes a timeline to bury waste in caverns inside the mountain by 2010. Congress this year passed a bill to speed up the timeline, but President Clinton vetoed it.

Barton is chairman of the House Commerce Committee's Energy and Power subcommittee, where Yucca oversight is conducted. Barton, now in his eighth two-year term in Congress, has been a staunch advocate of Congress' decision in 1987 to study Yucca.

Jordan dismissed the perception that the energy groups were buying face-time and influence with the Congressman.

"That's definitely not the case," Jordan said. "Anyone who knows Congressman Barton knows he can't be bought."

The energy trade groups are hosting a similar party for Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., in Los Angeles later this month at the Democratic National Convention. Dingell, the ranking Commerce Committee Democrat, sided with Nevada's members this year and voted against the Yucca bill passed by Congress.

NEI spokesman Steve Kerekes said the events are being hosted to honor "two gentlemen who have spent a great deal of time dealing with energy issues."