High Country News Vol. 14.20, Oct. 15, 1982
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****** ROCKYMOlJNT~N POLITICSISSlJE****** rns BEST AND THE WORST Ij OF THE' WEST IN CONGRESS by Dan Whipple very two years,we elect politicians amid a great deal ofhoopla and better at their jobs than others. High Country Newssurveyed dozens of send them offto Washington. There they stay for two or six years, lobbyists, congressional staffmembers and reporters to find out which Edepending upon the office, and wage their dailywars, passing laws RockyMountain region congressmen were most effective - and which that few of us need. Then again at election time, they return to the were least effective - in accomplishing their goals in Congress. We hustings and report on all the good they've done us in the interim. weren't interested in rating the officials on their environmental records. Severalgroups do that and we have included ratings from the League of These reports are, of course, somewhat self-serving. Few of us have Conservation Voters on our politicians' environmental records (see the time or inclination to follow the careers of our elected representa- page 9). Instead, we were interested in how well they accomplished tives in any detail.We more or less assume that they are doing their best their own agendas, regardless of whether they were pro- or anti- and forwarding the cause of truth, justice and the American way. environment. So herewith are the best and worst congressmen from the _ As in everything else,.though, some congressmen and senators are Rockies: ".". ... THE BEST IN THE SENATF .........._ ....._ ........ _ vative, he is not the one hundred per- short ofmeteoric. He is one of the most Pete Domenui (R-NM.) cent ideologue that he is sometimes popular men in the Senate and he has Domenici has been chai rman of the painted. During the debate on the 1977 established a great deal of trust. One Senate Budget Committee for two years Clean Air Act Amendments, he sup- lobbyist said, ''When he's against some- and, in the words of one source, "has ported the inclusion of firm pollution thing, it's trouble because he brings learned a lot." Domenici is perceived as standards in the law, telling one inter- people along with him." This year, he honest and candid. He has been in the viewer, "I don't expect corporations authored, sponsored and pushed congressional forefront of the recent voluntarily to try to achievebroad social through a comprehensive immigration budget battles and has been an goals." And, without McClure's support, reform bill. Said one congressional extremely effective-chairman. "He nas there would be no River of No Return observer, "You have no idea what a tre- been willing to take oil the White House Wilderness. As testimony to his effec- mendous accomplishment that was. and make them see some realiry in eco- tiveness, one lobbyist said, "He's good' People didn't think that bill had a snow- nomic policy." The budget has taken when he's with you and dangerous ball's chance in hell of getting through, most of his time and expertise, but he when he's against you." but because of Simpson, it passed." did manage to get a few swipes at the Simpson is also chairman of the Veteran Clean Air Actduring the renewal debate Affairs Committee and veterans, per- this year. He won the copper smelting haps not coincidentally, have not suf- industry another fiveyears - until 1992 . feted as much from the Reaganbudget - before they must comply with the cuts '!S many other interest groups. act. ~ Simpson has not been a darling of con- servationists, pushing some amend- ments that they thought weakened the DREAM TEAM Clean Air Act, and supporting a Wyom- ing wildemess bill that environmental- If you supported legislation and wanted a winning combination of ists consider inadequate. However, he has not gotten a vigorous anti- Senate sponsors, you would pick: Howard Baker (R-TetlTl.) - The James McClure(Rldabo) environmental reputation a Ia James senate majority leader is universullv McClure, and Simpson universally gets respected and his environmental record· i.. The chairman of the 'important-to- high marks for his willingness to-listen the-Rockies Energyand Natural Resour- isn't that bad either. and for his quick grasp of the issues. James McCillre (R·ldaho) - see ces Committee is often described as the Simpson seems destined to be one of accompanying story. smartest man in the Senate. He has a the leaders of the Senate for some time - Alan Cranston (D-Ca/if) - Some- great deal of respect among his col- to come. times overlookedwhen counting the leagues and is knowledgeable and well- best and the brightest. Cranston works prepared on issues that interest him. His behind the scenes and has a way of RISING STARS overall reputation among environmen- * * going into the cloak room, counting talists is not good, particularly since he Rep. Les AuCoin (D-Ore.) noses and coming out with enough has supported opening wilderness areas Rep. Tim Wirth (D-C%.) votes to win. Alan Simpson (R·Wyo.) for oil and gas leasing and supports stiff Rep. Mike Lowry (D-Wash.) release language for lands not declared Simpson's rise to power in the Senate Sen. Alan Simpson (R.Wyo.) as wilderness. However, while conser- sincehis election in 1978 has been little (continued on page 8) i ) , " un; ........... ' - BuRec may offer U.S. dams for sale In a move similar to its public lands sale program, the U.S. Department of Interior is considering selling federal darns 10 interested water users. The department has ordered the Bureau of Reclamation to survey hundreds of irrigation districts, power companies and other entities 10 see if they are interested in taking over ownership of water systems run. ~}he agency, said LW. lloyd, BuRec's North- west regional director in Boise. So far, the responses have been few, he said. But among those that did express interest were a Rupert, Idaho irrigation district ihat wants title to Min· idoka Dam and a group of Pasco, I Washington, irrigators who said three water districts in that state wanted to Libby Dam, Montana I own facilities at Grand Coulee Dam I In addition, the olIer is extended only liability and the responsibility for tak- "lock, stock and barrel." to entities that have paid oII their debt All official in the bureau's Washing· ~~:::n~:st'::';::~eo~tr:;e~:~~: ton, D.C. office said the agency distrib- to the government for the facilities' con- districts, although in Idaho, state offi- uted the survey to determine the struction costs. That stipulation could cials would continue dam inspection. amount of interest in ownership bring more money into government Idaho Department of Water Resour- tranfers before deciding whether to coffers because it serves as an incentive ces Director Ken Dunn called the plan seek congressional approval. to speed repayment by the districts, workable, but state fisheries officials "There is this momentum picking up some of which otherwise would not said they were not sure whether fish to return 10 the states more responsibil- complete their debt repayments until runs would be affected by private ity," BuRec spokesman Jed Hughes the tum of the century. High Country,: News ownership of darns. said. "It's unrelated to the land sales The BuRec's offer surprised some PIlbIished biweekly by the Higl1 Country Poun- . lloyd conceded some irrigation dis- (proposal), but it's a similar philo- water users, who said they were not dation. 331 Main, Under, Wyuming 82520. Tele- tricts want ownership because they dis- sophy." The Bureau of Land Manage- sure such an arrangement would be phone (307) 332-6970. Printed by theJacRson like using water for a variety of ment has begun a controversial plan to feasible. "I think they're just trying to Hole News, Jackson, Wyom~ Second class pos- purposes. However, he said congress _paid at Lander (USPS No .. 087480). All rights sell Sl7 billion worth of federal lands find some revenue," said Royse Van would mandate continued multiple use to publication of articles herein are reserved. and properties to reduce government Curen, manager of the Boise-Project before any transfers are approved. deficits (HCN, 7/23/82). Board of Control, which consists of five Tom Bell lloyd said he expects the bureau will Editor Emeritus The BuRec's olIer would raise money Idaho and Oregon irrigation districts. "I be able to obtain congressional appro- because the agency no longer would don't think there's anything more to it. Jill Bamburg val for ownership transfers if there is have to maintain and operate the water The only place (our district) might be Director enough interest among users. systems it owns across the country, interested in is Arrowrock Dam, but Dan Whipple if - Ellen Marks Managing Editor Hughes said. what would we do it breaks?" Carol jones Associate Editor wppss:' plant? Kathy A Bogan nuke weapons Design and Production Despite a growing nuclear weapons January. Reports indicate that, with fied at a fraction of the cost of starting Macjane Ambler minor modifications, the WPPSS plant construction on a new reactor. Geoffrey O'Gara freeze movement, the Reagan adminis- C.L Rawlins . tration has begun to develop plans to could produce plutonium for nuclear But such distinguished proponents of Don Snow- produce more plutonium for weaponry. warheads as well as electricity for nuclear power as Nobel Laureate Hans . Peter Wtld One prime site for the production facil- Northwest customers. Bethe have advised against such amove. COntributing Editor.< ity is none other than the Washington , The Task Force is also studying other Bethe, who also supports a unilateral nuclear weapons freeze, has argued that Betsy Schimelpfenig Public Power Supply System's recently possible new sources for weapons "nuclear energy and nuclear weapons FInance abandoned nuclear plant number 4 at grade plutonium, including the Clinch the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in River liquid Fast Breeder project in have nothing to do with each other" and PiuI H<)WOOd warned that the disarmament move- Production Assistant Washington.