Top nuclear regulator resigns amid GOP criticisms

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-top-nuclear-regulator-resigns-amid-gop-criticism-20120521,0,5906894.story

By Lisa Mascaro

May 21, 2012, 11:58 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who was championed by watchdogs for his cautious approach to nuclear power but criticized by Republicans in Congress for an overly hard-charging style has announced he will step down.

Gregory Jaczko, who led the commission’s efforts to protect Americans in Japan during the nuclear crisis at Fukushima and played a key role in fighting the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain as a former top aide to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nv.), the majority leader, came under scrutiny for what critics called an overbearing management approach at the agency. snip

Jaczko “dedicated his tenure to improving the safety of nuclear energy,” Reid said in a statement. “His work toward a safe and effective nuclear energy policy has left Nevada and the nation more secure.”

Critics, though, have targeted Jaczko for dismissal after a report from the GOP-led House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee found “his management style and aggressive behavior simultaneously eroded the collegial structure,” at the NRC.

[spanone]

1. darrell issa......mr. Jaczko must have been doing a good job.

Last edited Mon May 21, 2012, 04:16 PM - Edit history (1)

[RobertEarl]

5. yep

republicans win again. Jaczko was the sole vote against approval of the first nuke plant in 30 years. He became a target of the republicans at that point because he was actually in favor of making government work for the people.

[Turbineguy]

2. If you want to succeed under the republicans

it helps to have a nuclear catastrophe.

[Lns.Lns]

3. And this is why it is important for Liberals to stay in control of congress for generations...

Without even opening the can of worms that is indisputable climate change, if nuclear was safe energy, then it would be insurable through private firms. Since it can only be insured by something as large a government, that in itself is enough to shut them down responsibly. You have the President being beaten like a dog owned by a Sadist over Solyndra. I found it very suspect that the price of silicon was driven so high (IMHO to make solar too expensive), then companies like Solyndra turning to film solar and then a massive drop in price in silicon to put those companies out of business. When you go from $400 - $30 you need to wonder who is really driving markets? Used to be when solar companies started to become successful, oil would buy them up with a big brouhaha about alternative energy and the future. Then they quietly close them one by one.

Over a long time horizon, people don't easily connect the dots, in many areas. We actually need to be more like the Republicans without the evil intent. We need to have long term goals and not get so excited over small defeats that can be corrected as long as we continue to win. Of course I would love everything to be as I would like them, but I think I understand why the Pres does some of the things he does that get Liberals upset. If you look at the where the Republicans started with Reagan (and arguable Nixon) and where they got over time to now with their pragmatism, I think we need to be just as pragmatic. Obama care has the big old loophole that will allow states to do their own single payer which can then spread across the country. As counterintuitive as war is to liberals, by being tough, he has taken the old canard that Dems can't protect us away from them, while at the same time slowly decreasing the talking necessity of engagement. Let's not forget that the rest of the world has actually began to respect us rather than fear us.

We need to win over the long term. If we try to get it all too fast, the other side will win. It makes it worse during economic hard times because unfortunately, when you look at history, people get ugly during a bad economy. Even Roosevelt allowed Mexicans to become the whipping post for anger.

Whether you understand or not the way we bailed out the country (and lets face it, there are many on our side still crying for blood - it is too big a story to try to go in to here), we are in a recovery that can be sustained. We could be Europe since they took the Republican approach and now they may have to abandon that way with many more years of pain ahead. If we lose because we are only crying for the short gains, the next crash (which will come if Reps win), will be the one that changes us from reading the Grapes of Wrath to living it.

Just my opinion.

[enough]

4. "eroded the collegial structure" at the NRC.

Exactly.

[surrealAmerican]

6. Since when are the republicans against ...

... "aggressive" management styles?

Isn't that something they tend to advocate?