Gov Says Not Signing Waste Bill was "Protest Vote"
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) Utah's Governor is defending his decision to let a nuclear waste-related measure go into effect without his signature or veto. Critics have called Jon Huntsman's decision "spineless" and "wimpy." Huntsman sees otherwise:"I chose not to sign it as a protest vote," says Huntsman. "It would have been an easy thing to do a veto, but where does that get you? It's a message, but it doesn't get you anywhere. I wanted to make a statement, but I'm not sure everybody read the fine print of that statement."
Huntsman says the fine print reiterates his opposition to storing high-level nuclear waste in Utah. He also promises to send a letter to the regional governing body for nuclear waste requesting they limit future volumes approved for disposal at the EnergySolutions site in Tooele.
"To make sure that from a volume and measurement standpoint from a certain point in time we don't keep bringing it into our state," says Huntsman.
The Governor also pledges to closely supervise state regulators and demand special reports concerning the quantities and types of waste EnergySolutions accepts. He also maintains that Senate Bill 155 merely made technical changes to the company's license and did not address the issues of volume or radioactivity which concern him most.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. David Proctor said:
Huntsman can say what he wants. He could have made a strong statement. Instead he sold out.
2. Jonathan Goldman said:
Ok. Fair enough. It bothers me that the governor spends his time trying to appear strong by picking a fight with company that disposes of low level nuke waste, which is relatively harmless. He says he's opposed to high level waste, but that's already prohibited from coming into the state. Why why doesn't he spend his time cracking down on the real polluters in the state like Mag Corp and the coal power plant in Delta?!!!