Berkley backs Canadian drugs

Kirsten Searer

Friday, March 25, 2005 | 9:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., encouraged legislators Thursday to pass a bill that would encourage importation of prescription drugs from Canada.

Assembly Bill 195 would allow Nevada to license Canadian pharmacies and establish a Web site to make it easier for residents to purchase cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.

Berkley also assured legislators that she will work to kill a bill that would ban collegiate betting, just as she has when lawmakers have attempted the bill previously.

"It singles out the state because we are the only state in the nation that has legal betting on collegiate sports," she said.

She said she would rather authorities go after illegal gaming, instead of controlled gaming in Nevada, where people have to be 21 years old and present to place a bet.

Later, Berkley said she doesn't think the Bush administration will have a change of heart over the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site, even though the Energy Department recently disclosed that some scientific studies of the site might have been fabricated.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt wrote to President Bush this week asking him to reconsider the project in light of the admissions from the Energy Department.

"They don't budge once their minds are made up," Berkley said.

She said Nevada could be a leader in wind, solar and geothermal power if the Bush administration would do more to explore other power sources than nuclear.

"They can no sooner see beyond the nose on their faces as they can envision energy independence in our nation," she said.