Friday, March 25, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.
Sen. Harry Reid has an opportunity to rectify his error in supporting a bill to compensate the Western Shoshones in exchange for federal control of the land. Reid, along with Congress and President Bush, wanted the Shoshones to accept $145 million for the land, as per the 1979 final report of the Indian Claims Commission. To their credit, the Western Shoshones have not accepted the money.
When I called the offices of Sens. Reid and John Ensign, prior to this ill-advised legislation, I was told that the compensation would not affect other terms of the 1863 treaty in relationship to our fight against Yucca Mountain. Now there is an opportunity for our congressional delegation, led by our senators, to support the Western Shoshone nation's lawsuit, and along with it, the state of Nevada.
FRANK PERNA
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