GOP candidates collect donations from Yucca team

Erin Neff

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 10:55 a.m.

Republicans vying for Nevada's three congressional seats each received campaign contributions from Yucca Mountain proponents -- a move they said has no impact on their opposition to the project.

Both Jon Porter and Lynette Boggs McDonald received contributions from former Nevada governor Robert List, a Yucca Mountain lobbyist. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., received money from Yucca Mountain contractor Bechtel Corp.'s political action committee.

Gibbons received $1,000 from Bechtel PAC on Aug. 17, 2001, Boggs McDonald received $1,000 from List on Dec. 14, 2001 and Porter got $1,000 from List on Aug. 22, 2001, according to reports filed last week with the Federal Election Commission.

Boggs McDonald said she sees no problem accepting money from List, despite her stated opposition to Yucca Mountain.

"When I look at Robert List, I don't just look at him as a one-issue person," said Boggs McDonald, who is running against Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., in Nevada's 1st Congressional District.

"While this may be an issue we disagree on, it doesn't take away from Robert List's tremendous pro-business experience," Boggs McDonald said. "I disagree with my husband on issues, and we share a checking account."

Gibbons said Bechtel's long history in the state, including its work on Hoover Dam, makes him proud that the Nevada company would donate to his campaign.

"It's not the company that is Nevada's enemy, it's the law that is Nevada's enemy," Gibbons said. "They're looking for good government, they're not looking for influence."

Porter's campaign consultant, Mike Slanker, said Porter's opposition to Yucca Mountain will not be diminished by a $1,000 contribution.

"We disagree with Bob List on this issue and unfortunately we're going to be on opposite sides," Slanker said. "That check certainly shows no sign of weakness by Jon Porter."

Slanker first become aware of the Yucca Mountain campaign controversy when working on John Ensign's two Senate campaigns. Ensign accepted contributions from Bechtel until the company was named Yucca contractor.

Porter's Democratic opponent, Dario Herrera, said he avoids accepting money from anyone related to the nuclear industry. And, he said, if a contribution is traced to someone related to Yucca Mountain, his campaign would return it.

"I think voters should be concerned about any congressional candidate taking money from the nuclear power industry's hired gun," Herrera said. "I think voters would be right to question any candidate's level of commitment to fighting Yucca Mountain if they receive money from the people trying to bring it here."

Boggs McDonald said she doesn't see any reason to return List's contribution. Altogether she raised $250,000 for the period ending Dec. 31.

"It's not me giving money to Robert List," she said.

Berkley's campaign manager, Peggy Egan, said Berkley would not accept any money from a source related to Yucca Mountain, or from any of the project's congressional advocates.

Porter's FEC report shows List's contribution but then reports it on another line, reattributing the donation to List's wife, Maryanne. Candidates often reattribute donations to earmark the money for either the primary or general election or to redesignate the donation to a person's spouse.

Democrats have been attacking Republicans more stridently on the Yucca Mountain issue since Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said he would recommend the site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas to be the nation's high-level nuclear waste repository.

Last month Democrats protested House Majority Leader Dick Armey's trip to Las Vegas to raise money for Republicans and to publicly endorse Boggs McDonald.

Boggs McDonald also received contributions from PACs operated by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

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