Democrats criticize Ensign over nuke waste

CARSON CITY -- A state Democratic Party leader is questioning GOP Senate hopeful John Ensign's ability to stop efforts by Republicans to get a nuclear waste dump built in Nevada.

But Ensign spokesman Mike Slanker said Thursday that state Democratic Chairman Rory Reid "is reaching, grasping at straws" in raising the high-level nuclear dump issue.

Reid said Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has stated he doesn't want to force issues that would embarrass Republican candidates in the November elections. But Reid added Republicans are still pushing a Nevada waste dump.

"I guess that shows you how much influence John Ensign really has in the Republican Party," said Reid.

Slanker countered that Ensign proved his ability to block the dump by successfully fighting a pro-dump move by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1998.

"He wants to get to the Senate, and he'll fight the nuclear dump just as hard there," said Slanker. "There's not a stronger hand that Nevada could play than to elect him."

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