04-29-2000

ENERGY: Clinton Detonates Nuclear Waste Bill

President Clinton on April 25 used his veto pen to deliver what could be
the final blow to Republican attempts to enact nuclear-waste-storage
legislation during his tenure. The bill-which would clear the way for
creating a permanent storage facility for tons of spent nuclear fuel at
Yucca Mountain, Nev.-has been a Republican priority for years. But Clinton
consistently has threatened to veto it, and this was the first time since
the GOP took over Congress in 1995 that a stand-alone nuclear waste bill
reached his desk. In 1996 and again in 1997, Republicans deserted the
legislation after the Senate failed to approve it by enough votes-a
two-thirds majority-to override an expected veto. In February, the Senate
also fell a few votes shy of passing the bill by a veto-proof margin.
Nevertheless, Senate GOP leaders have set a vote for early next week on
whether to override Clinton's veto. When the House approved the measure in
March, Republicans were about three dozen votes short of a two-thirds
majority.


Brody Mullins/CongressDaily

National Journal