Hanford Cleanup
#5445: Hanford Cleanup (2005)
Clarifying I-297.
Supported by Sierra Club (2 points).
Passed Senate, died in House.
Voters passed I-297 by an overwhelming majority in November. I-297 essentially said that Hanford could not accept any more nuclear waste until the existing waste is cleaned up. After passage, the federal government sued to prevent it from taking effect. A by-product of that lawsuit was concern that the Initiative might inadvertently restrict the research and development of nuclear isotopes used for medical purposes. The primary purpose of this bill was to clarify that the Initiative did not intend to regulate medical isotopes.
Passed the Senate with just enough votes (needed 2/3 because it amends an initiative within two years of its passage). In the House, Rep. Hankins, from the Hanford area, made it clear that killing this bill was one of her top priorities. Her opposition made it extremely difficult to get a firm vote count with the required 2/3 vote in the House. The matter is still in the courts.
Senator Kline for moving the bill in the Senate. Representative Nixon for advocating for the bill within the House Republican Caucus.
Representative Hankins for her vigorous opposition in the House.
