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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's only Democrat in Washington isn't mincing words when it comes to nuclear weapons testing in Nevada.
Rep. Jim Matheson has harsh criticism for two senatorial candidates that say they would support underground testing in the Silver State if the military thinks it's necessary.
"The history of this issue is a pretty sad legacy for the state of Utah," Matheson said in a press conference Monday.
He called Tim Bridgewaters's and Mike Lee's support for such testing "disturbing."
"Our existing stockpile is secure, it's functional and it is projected to last many decades," he said.
Matheson said Utahns have historical reasons to oppose nuclear weapons testing, either above ground or below ground, and he pointed out the history of illness many Utahns went through due to fallout.
"When the testing occurred at the Nevada Test Site, the government told us it was safe. They told us not to worry. But in fact, the government knew there was risk, and the government lied," Matheson said.
Matheson lost his father, former Gov. Scott Matheson, to cancer that was blamed on living downwind from the Nevada Test Site where atomic tests were conducted in the 1950 and ‘60s.
The congressman pledged to do everything to make sure the United States doesn't go down that path again. He has created a website to gather names of those opposed to renewed testing. CLICK HERE to visit the website.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
