GOP platform softens stance on nuke waste

Friday, May 26, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Republican platform writers Thursday got tough on abortion but adopted a softened stance against the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

The platform to be presented to the state GOP convention, which opens today, also opposes the gaming and business tax initiative petitions and supports a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages.

Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, chairman of the platform committee, said he expected floor fights over several issues, particularly abortion.

The abortion plank says, "We support the inalienable right to life of every person from conception to a natural death." Hettrick said that's the same position taken in the national platform of the party. Essentially it bans all abortions.

The stance was adopted on a 12-9 vote by the committee. "This is going to be contentious, no matter what we adopt," Hettrick said.

While Democrats at their state convention last week in Las Vegas passed a strong resolution opposing the nuclear dump, the GOP platform was milder.

It said, "We encourage industry to research and develop methods of recycling waste into usable products or harmless material rather than storing or discarding such waste, including nuclear waste." Hettrick said his committee does not want to see the waste come to Nevada.

"But if it becomes a reality, certain things need to be done," he said. The site must be "scientifically based," and the federal government should give compensation to the state. And Nye County, where Yucca Mountain is located, should have a place at the table when there are negotiations.

James Williams, a delegate from Pahrump in Nye County, wanted to see a strong resolution to fight every attempt to locate the repository in Nevada. The plank that was adopted, he said, "is very soft." He said the delegates seemed resigned that the dump was coming to Nevada.

"There doesn't seem to be a passion," he said.

This resolution doesn't seem to jive with the position taken by GOP Senate candidate John Ensign whose fliers at the convention said, "Fighting nuclear waste every day. No one is more committed to stopping nuclear waste than John Ensign."

In his brochure, he said, "We need an experienced fighter to work to see that nuclear waste does not advance one inch closer to Nevada."

An estimated 500 delegates will take part in the two-day convention at the Ormsby House hotel-casino, built by former Republican governor-senator Paul Laxalt.

The convention will elect party officers. As the convention opened this morning, former state Treasurer Bob Seale of Las Vegas was unopposed to become state GOP chairman succeed John Mason, an attorney from Lake Tahoe.

Mason is running for national committeeman against Las Vegas casino owner Tom Wiesner who has held the position for 16 years. Lia Roberts, vice chairman of the Republican Party, former state Treasurer Patty Cafferata of Reno and Beverly Willard of Douglas County are vying to become national committeewoman to succeed former Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich who did not seek re-election.