Republicans Willing to Shut Down Government Over Less Than Half The Cost of GOP Yucca Dump Plan

Statement

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley released the following statement comparing the amount Republicans are willing to spend on the failed Yucca Mountain project -- $100 billion -- versus the $40 billion in cuts that they are threatening to shut down the government over.
"Nevadans are hearing Republicans say we have to make damaging budget cuts at the same time they are seeing these same Republicans push for $100 billion in spending to turn Nevada into a nuclear waste dump.

"This is absolute hypocrisy at its worst. And it comes at a time when Republicans are saying they will shut down the government and punish Americans over half of what they're willing to spend on a nuclear garbage dump Nevadans have rejected for decades.

"Republicans have pledged their undying support for keeping Yucca spending alive while pushing reckless cuts in funding to help Nevadans attend college, for cancer screenings, for the senior volunteer program and for distance learning programs that serve rural communities and residents in our State.

"Dumping nuclear waste 90 minutes from Las Vegas is not going to help us save Social Security, or improve our schools or serve our veterans and troops on the battlefield. But it will put lives at risk from decades of dangerous nuclear waste shipments traveling through communities in more than 40 states that are home to 50 million Americans.

"Nevadans reject Yucca Mountain and Republican claims that we can afford the $100 billion needed to build and operate this dump. And they are stunned that these same Republican lawmakers are willing to shut down the government over an amount that is less than half the cost of Yucca Mountain.

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