Heavyweight GOP lobbyist joins Nevada team

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, March 13, 2002 | 11:13 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers have enlisted GOP heavyweight lobbyist Ken Duberstein to help them drum up opposition in Congress to the Yucca Mountain project.

Duberstein, who served as President Reagan's chief of staff, was at the top of a short list during a search in recent days for a high-profile Republican lobbyist, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said.

Duberstein will join Democrat John Podesta, former chief of staff to President Clinton, as Nevada's leading anti-Yucca lobbyists on Capitol Hill.

President Bush approved Yucca Mountain as the most suitable site to bury the nation's nuclear waste last month, and Congress is expected to vote on the issue by mid-year. Both the House and Senate are expected to approve the Yucca plan, but some observers say the Senate vote could be close.

The nuclear industry is mobilizing an aggressive lobbying campaign in favor of the Yucca project.

To counter that, Duberstein and Podesta will spend much of their time urging key senators to vote against it, Ensign said. Duberstein is chairman and CEO of The Duberstein Group.

"They have great relationships in the U.S. Senate, and they have credibility," Ensign said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, "John (Ensign) and I now have an outstanding team in place to fight the misguided Yucca Mountain project."

Duberstein was not available for comment. Nevada lawmakers have not disclosed how much Podesta or Duberstein will be paid.

"We're not talking money," Ensign said.

The state has a growing anti-Yucca fund -- the Nevada Legislature approved $5 million; the American Gaming Association has committed $500,000; and the Nevada Resort Association $250,000.

Duberstein's name surfaced as Ensign sought advice on lobbyists from trusted allies, including American Gaming Association president Frank Fahrenkopf, who is also former chairman of the Republican National Committee. Duberstein has worked for the AGA on gaming issues.

Fahrenkopf said Duberstein is a powerful player in Washington.

"Anytime you can enlist in a legislative battle two former White House chiefs of staff, you've got a powerful team," Fahrenkopf said. "Mr. Duberstein is a very well-respected lobbyist in Washington."

Duberstein does not have any conflicts of interest with the nuclear industry, which is a vocal supporter of the Yucca Mountain project, Ensign said.

Duberstein and Podesta are "excited" about working together as an anti-Yucca lobbying team, Ensign said.

Duberstein also serves on the board of directors of Boeing Company, on the advisory board of the Kennedy School at Harvard's Institute of Politics and is chairman of the ethics committee for the U.S. Olympic Committee.