Berkley: More Regulations, More Bad Votes for NV #NVSen

Votes to Protect Regulations, Harm Growth for NV Mining Industry

(Las Vegas, NV) – Once again, seven-term Congresswoman Shelley Berkley voted to make Nevada’s economic recovery even more difficult, especially for northern Nevada. 

“Shelley Berkley votes the party line for more bureaucracy, bigger government and more regulations, even when it’s detrimental to Nevada.  The seven-term Congresswoman today once again voted against streamlining the federal permitting process and instead chose to preserve miles of red tape and empower Washington bureaucrats. Either Congresswoman Berkley is simply out of touch, or she just doesn’t care all that much,” said Chandler Smith, Heller for Senate spokeswoman.

Today, Shelley Berkley voted for the Tonko Amendment to H.R. 4402, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012, which narrows the definition of “strategic and critical minerals.” She also voted for language to add unnecessary beaucratic delays to the bill that would not improve the permitting process.

Right now, the United States relies on foreign countries to supply many of the raw materials addressed by this bill.  These minerals are necessary for national defense, renewable energy, medical devices, manufacturing, and many other important sectors of our economy, as well as the innovative technologies of the future.

But this isn’t the first, second, or even third time Shelley Berkley has turned her back on Northern Nevada and rural Nevada.

In June 2012, Berkley took sides with the League of Conservation Voters instead of creating 800 jobs in Lyon County. (H.R. 4039, Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act).

In June 2012, Berkley voted against legislation that would give grazers greater certainty about their permit renewal. (H.R. 4234, Grazing Improvement Act)

Shelley Berkley said she doesn’t want to go looking at “your mines” in rural Nevada: “I have my hands full down here…I don’t think I have to be traipsing up to Carlin to look at your mines when I have so many needs (in Clark County).”  (John Mercurio, “Between the Lines,” Roll Call, Jan. 29, 2001)

Shelley Berkley said doesn’t want to represent rural areas: “Speaking so bluntly she insulted at least one rural lawmaker, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., told legislators Monday she doesn’t want her district redrawn to include rural areas….Berkley wants to represent only urban Las Vegas, also opposing any thought of her district encompassing the suburbs.” (Jane Ann Morrison, “Berkley: ‘Hands full’ with urban issues,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jan. 23, 2001)