Bush comment on Yucca anticipated

Kirsten Searer

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

President Bush was expected to address the issue of Yucca Mountain during his visit today to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America International Training Center.

The campaign stop, which comes on the heels of a two-day visit from Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, will highlight the president's plans to strengthen the economy and build a strong national security, Bush spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said.

Also, she said, Bush "will speak to the issue of Yucca Mountain."

Before his speech, a reporter yelled a question to Bush asking about Yucca Mountain. The president just smiled and waved.

The president has not made a statement on the proposed nuclear waste repository, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, since approving it in 2002. In the 2000 campaign, he promised to use "sound science" to determine the fate of the plan. He angered many Nevadans by signing off on the project.

Bush arrived a few minutes earlier than announced, with Air Force One touching down at 10:10 a.m.

The president exited the plane at 10:25 and greeted Nevada's two Republican House members, Jim Gibbons and Jon Porter, as well as with Republican National Committeewoman Beverly Willard.

Bush then took a moment to talk with longtime Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity volunteer Mike Peschl before his motorcade left for the union training center.

Bush was then scheduled to tour the union's training center before speaking at the union building. He was expected to spend two hours here before leaving for a fund-raiser in California.

The president is speaking to the carpenters union because Bush and the carpenters "both share a commitment to growing the economy in creating jobs," Schmitt said.

"The president understands that good jobs require good training," Schmitt said. "The program that President Bush will tour reflects these priorities."

Some local union members have been critical of the carpenters hosting Bush, saying he disagrees with unions on many key issues. Democrats and Kerry are drawing much of their support from labor unions.

Bob Welch, director of operations for the training center that Bush will be visiting, said the president was invited to tour the facility two years ago and just now has accepted the invitation. The tour does not represent support for Bush as a candidate, he said.

"Officially we are neutral," Welch said.

Democratic Party spokesman Jon Summers called the situation "a little different," but said the party will focus on Bush's support for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

"I'm just focused more on hoping that we get answers from him about Yucca Mountain," Summers said. "This is the third opportunity that he's been in Nevada to explain why he lied to us about Yucca Mountain."

Bush visited Las Vegas in November and Reno in June but did not mention the Yucca Mountain issue.

Kerry has made Yucca Mountain a centerpiece of his campaign in the state. He has pledged to stop Yucca Mountain if he's elected president.

Democrats hope to rally hundreds of people outside of the training center to protest Bush, Summers said. Nevada has been an election hot spot this week. Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to make his fourth trip to Nevada this year on Saturday, when he will attend a rally at Elko High School in Elko.