Washington news briefs for May 2, 2001

Wednesday, May 2, 2001 | 10:13 a.m.

McCain moving quickly for vote

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is moving quickly to pass a bill that would ban betting on college sports in Nevada casinos. McCain, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, held a lively hearing on the bill last week and will attempt to call a committee vote on the bill Thursday. Committee member Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is expected to attempt to slow the bill.

McCain and other bill supporters say the legislation will begin to curb illegal gambling by college students. They say it is "unseemly" to gamble on students. Nevada casino executives and state lawmakers oppose the bill, saying it won't put a dent in illegal gambling nationwide. They support an alternative bill that increases penalties for illegal gambling and requires universities to implement anti-gambling programs.

If the Commerce Committee passes the McCain bill, it would go to the Senate floor for debate and a vote. Nevada senators vow to block it. The bill has not had a House hearing.

Reid calls for more funding

Congress needs to invest more money in renewable energy research, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday. He used a hearing on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to stress his objections to President Bush's proposed budget, which cuts funding for renewable energy programs. Congress has just begun reviewing the budget. Bush has signaled that he wants Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to review renewable programs before more spending.

"At a time when our nation is facing the biggest energy challenge in decades, this administration has slashed the budget for some of the fastest, cleanest, and cheapest solutions to our power needs," said Reid, who is the top Democrat on the subcommittee and a leading Bush critic on the environment. Reid also said, "My home state of Nevada has the potential to be a world leader in geothermal energy development, but not without continued investment in this and other renewable resources.

Gibbons says GAO report unfinished

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said the General Accounting Office is still finishing a report he requested last year on the reasons why students drop out of school. Officials with the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, recently briefed him on their progress, he said. The officials said schools do not use a consistent method for calculating drop-out rates, which has hampered the investigation. No accurate national data exist on the effectiveness of dropout prevention programs, GAO officials said. They plan to study programs in Nevada, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.