Cortez Masto says she's close to a deal to remove plutonium secretly shipped to Southern Nevada
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto says the head of the U.S. Department of Energy may be willing to commit to removing plutonium secretly shipped to Nevada late last year.
Cortez Masto, speaking to reporters after a brief speech delivered to a joint session of the state Legislature in Carson City, said Energy Secretary Rick Perry told her he could commit to a timeline for removing the half-ton of radioactive bomb-making material if Cortez Masto agreed to lift her blockade on future Energy Department nominees. Those nominees need Senate confirmation that Cortez Masto, like other senators, can all but unilaterally withhold.
(Perry) called me to express his concerns about my holding the nominees up, she said. I made it very clear I was looking for something in writing that ensures no more plutonium comes to Nevada and a commitment to a time frame for when they will ship this out.
We had a very good, cordial conversation. He said he could give me that commitment. So we left the conversation with both of us agreeing to have designated staff work on the written letter and well go from there.
Read more: https://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/20/watch-sen-cortez-masto-addresses-nevada-legislature/3229643002/