Perkins calls for president to address ‘broken promises’

Suzanne Struglinski

Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 | 10:53 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- In preparation for President Bush's arrival in Las Vegas Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee tapped State Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, a Democrat from Henderson, to make the party's weekly radio address.

On Saturday, during a five-minute speech, Perkins addressed the Yucca Mountain Project and the Bush administration's push to get the federal nuclear waste storage site, planned for 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, approved.

Perkins addressed the "host of safety questions" on the transportation and storage of 77,000 ton of nuclear the waste at Yucca Mountain.

President Bush gave the final approval to the site last year, allowing Congress to give permission to the Energy Department to move forward to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's license processing. DOE anticipated sending an application to the commission in December 2004.

"What is so disturbing about President Bush's conduct is the distrust that he has personally brought to the process," Perkins said. "President Bush, seeking the votes of Nevada citizens during the close 2000 election, promised us here in Nevada that he would not rush to judgment on nuclear waste, that he would let science guide the administration's decision making."

Perkins said the president will be met by people in the state hoping that he will reverse his decision.

"President Bush broke his promise to us here in Nevada with speed and arrogance that is astounding."

Perkins touched on the familiar arguments from the state against the site, from inadequate science surrounding the site's selection, hundreds of remaining unanswered questions on the site, risk of terrorist attacks and accidents during shipment and even Bush's approval of the site despite a veto by Gov. Kenny Guinn's --- a strong Bush supporter.

"You can't build trust based on breaking promises and misleading people," Perkins said. "So as Air Force One lands in Las Vegas in a few days, I would hope President Bush will attempt to address his broken promises and begin to rebuild his credibility with my friends and neighbors here in Nevada."