Berkley urges two-front fight

Erin Neff

Thursday, April 19, 2001 | 10:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Rep. Shelley Berkley told a joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday that it must continue efforts to fight two federal attempts to harm the state.

She lashed out against the NCAA's attempts to ban legalized betting on collegiate sports and condemned the increasing federal budget for plans to store high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Her brief remarks to the Senate and Assembly drew the most applause when she discussed "preposterous" attempts to ban college sports betting and nuclear dump plans that could turn Las Vegas into a "ghost town" with one accident.

"This is a fight," Berkley, D-Nev., said about Yucca Mountain. "This is a hill to die for."

Berkley said Nevada has the facts on its side because Yucca Mountain has seismic issues and ground water concerns that make it unsuitable for such a storage facility.

"The Nevada Legislature and local governments need to continue to send a strong message to the federal government -- no nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain," she urged.

But she reserved her toughest criticism for the NCAA and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who support the college sports betting ban.

With $2 billion in legal sports wagering conducted in Nevada versus the estimated $380 billion illegal handle nationwide, Berkley said the NCAA is attacking the wrong side.

"It's almost like outlawing aspirin and saying it's going to alleviate the illegal drug problem in this country," Berkley said.

With McCain's hearings on the bill bound to create national media attention when Congress reconvenes April 26, Berkley said it is important for the Nevada delegation to drum up support for their alternative plan.

The alternative measure, for which Berkley and Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., have obtained 90 original sponsors in the House, calls for a study of illegal gambling and doubling the penalties for such a crime.

She referred to the NCAA's "hypocrisy and sanctimoniousness" in attacking Nevada without addressing the gambling problems of students at its member colleges and universities.

Berkley also suggested some of the $6 billion in revenue the NCAA received from CBS for television rights for the Final Four men's basketball championship should be spent on preventing such gambling.

After her speech Berkley said it's important for Nevada's delegation to block any vote on McCain's bill on the Senate floor.

"I think Sen. McCain is in danger of overreaching," Berkley said. "There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for him to be promoting that legislation other than as a publicity stunt for him."