Indeed, Utahns and Nevadans have every justification to doubt promises by the federal government to safely transport and store the nuclear waste. Matheson frequently reminds us how his family and other Utahns were exposed to radioactivity in the 1950s. Although the government knew of harmful effects from testing nuclear weapons, they gave little warning and no protection to southern Utahns. The death toll from this negligence continues.

At least this controversy demolishes the tired argument that Matheson, because he is a Democrat, is not an effective representative for our state in Congress. Early in his first term, Matheson articulated the tactic of challenging the Yucca Mountain site to prevent the "temporary" storage of spent nuclear rods in Utah. His congressional colleagues hoped in vain for a reprieve from the Bush administration, which never came. (Indeed, Orrin Hatch is under attack from GOP challenger Stephen Urquhart for supporting Yucca.) The Matheson strategy of bipartisan cooperation with Sen. Harry Reid and other Western leaders has become the best defense for the Rocky Mountain region from becoming a giant toilet.

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Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. He now is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. A former candidate for Salt Lake mayor, Pignanelli served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. Pignanelli's spouse, D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, is executive director of the state Department of Administrative Services in the Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. administration. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.