Senator Weighs Offering Legislation Ending Liability Limits for Nuclear Disasters

[bananas]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/senator-weighs-offering-legislation-ending-liability-limits-for-nuclear-disasters-20140131

Senator Weighs Offering Legislation Ending Liability Limits for Nuclear Disasters
By Douglas P. Guarino January 31, 2014

U.S. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) covers his face during a 2009 hearing. Sanders is considering introducing a bill that would end liability limits for the nuclear power industry in the event of a disaster.(Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images)

Senator Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) is considering introducing legislation this year that would overturn the federal law insulating the nuclear power industry from liability in the event of a catastrophe.

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During a hearing on Thursday, Sanders debated Republican colleagues on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee who argued that the federal government plays too big a role in regulating the energy industry and is thus stifling its growth.

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Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) suggested during the hearing "that perhaps we are trying to regulate the nuclear energy industry out business, just like we're trying to regulate the fossil fuels business out of business."

Sanders countered that the nuclear power industry would not be able to exist in the United States were it not for the liability limits in federal law and the government's obligation to cover excess costs related to a catastrophe.

He suggested this was ironic, given that Republicans had given "speech after speech" arguing that that it is government that is preventing industry from succeeding.

"I wonder if any of my conservative friends would co-sponsor with me legislation to repeal Price Anderson so that we can leave the nuclear power industry alone and not get involved with government," Sanders said. "I look forward to working with Senator [David] Vitter [R-La.] or Senator Inhofe on getting the government out of the nuclear power industry. Any volunteers at this point?"

After leaving the hearing early, Sanders told Global Security Newswire he could introduce legislation repealing the law as early as this year.

"We may very well -- we'll look at it," Sanders told GSN. "I think it's important to deal with some of the hypocrisy."

[jsr]

1. Recommend

[FBaggins]

2. Mere bluster

He'll be lucky if he gets more than a handful of even Democratic cosponsors - let alone a House that's willing to pass it or a President willing to sign it.