Nuclear Information and Resource Service
1424 16th Street NW, #404, Washington DC 20036
202-328-0002; fax: 202-462-2183; e-mail: nirsnet@igc.apc.org Web: www.nirs.org
July 17, 1996, 3 pm
Today, Wednesday, the Senate has temporarily shelved S. 1936 and is moving on to other business. Now that Senators Reid and Bryan have proven they can get 34 votes, they have agreed to drop their filibuster efforts for the time being and will let the Senate debate other bills.
Our best estimate now is that the key "cloture" vote (the vote to cut off the Reid/Bryan filibuster on S. 1936) will take place next Wednesday or Thursday (July 24 or 25). We will again need at least 34 votes on this effort to remain credible. Indeed, it is possible we can get the full 40 votes needed to win the cloture vote! This would almost certainly end any further consideration of S. 1936 this year. All we need to do is hold on to those who voted with Reid/Bryan the first time, and switch six more votes.
Given that President Clinton has reaffirmed in writing his intention to veto this bill, switching six votes is certainly possible, if Senators perceive that continuing with the bill is a waste of time. We need to keep building momentum, and keep those calls, faxes, e-mails and letters coming in.
Short-term: If you haven't called your Senators yet, please do so. If your Senator voted with Reid/Bryan yesterday, please thank him/her and encourage him/her to continue voting against S. 1936 and against any cloture vote. If your Senator voted for cloture yesterday, point out that Reid/Bryan got enough votes to sustain a veto, and that Clinton has promised a veto. Any further consideration of this bill is a waste of the Senate's time, and takes away from the Senate's duty to pass appropriations bills and consider bills that might benefit the American people.
Continue reaching out to friends, contacting phone trees, other groups that might be interested, local officials, etc. A lot of calls are reaching the Senate--we must keep it up!
Note: please do not be afraid of calling your Senator more than once. While it's a good idea not to be a pest, as circumstances change, Senators need to hear your views. For example, now that the first vote has taken place, it is perfectly appropriate to call Senators so far in support of S. 1936 and point out that circumstances have changed, and not only should they not support the bill, but neither should they further waste the Senate's time by encouraging consideration of a bill that will be vetoed, and the veto sustained.
If your Senator(s) voted with Reid/Bryan, write a letter to the editor of a local paper praising that vote. You might also consider praising Clinton for the July 15 reaffirmation of his veto promise. He, Reid/Bryan, and all the Senators who voted against cloture need to be commended for their efforts to protect Americans from unsound radioactive waste dumping practices and for working to block unnecessary and dangerous radioactive waste transportation through hundreds of cities, towns, and America's agricultural heartland.
Long-term: Go to your city and county councils and get resolutions passed against S. 1936. There is still time to gain more political support for our position, especially if the Senate goes ahead and votes for the bill, and Clinton vetoes it. That process could take weeks. Resolutions passed by other cities and counties (ranging in size from Los Angeles, Denver, & St. Louis to Mt. Rainier, MD, and Decatur, GA) are available from NIRS or from our website (www.nirs.org). Gathering more political support is essential in this election year.
In addition, there is still time to get new organizations to sign on to letters to the Senate and White House against S. 1936. Unless we win the cloture vote next Thursday, this could go on into September. Letters to the White House are important so that Clinton realizes his position is supported.
Think about organizations which you might not yet have contacted. Has the local chapter of Audobon sent a letter yet? How about the local chapter of American Association of Retired People? Local Young Democrats Group? or Americans for Democratic Action? How about the local Chamber of Commerce (esp. in areas where resolutions have already passed?). Church congregations can often be helpful. How about some of the contacts you made doing Chernobyl relief work?
We realize it's summer, and hot, and vacation time and everything else. But this is crunch time--this period has been 2 years in the making; we either win or lose now. The nuclear industry is running large ads in the Washington Post almost every day. And you can bet they're getting in touch with their own "grassroots" constituency: utility executive and nuclear plant workers. The nuclear industry is not going to let up, and we can't either. BUT WE CAN WIN, and with your help and work right now, WE WILL WIN!