• “Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring”
• NY Governor Eliot Spitzer Admits “Involvement In” Prostitution Ring
• Spitzer apologizes: ‘I promised better.’

Well, the one Democrat I voted for that won. I voted for Jonathan Tasini for Senate versus Hillary Clinton in the primary, and Howie Hawkins in the General–but that’s another story. The story I’m left wondering about is my job:

Spitzer wants $11.6M from nuke plants
By Alexa James
Times Herald-Record
February 06, 2008

BUCHANAN — Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants to charge nuclear power plants for their military protection.

Buried in the state’s proposed budget is a reimbursement request for $11.6 million — the amount the government spends to station National Guard and Naval Militia patrols at four privately owned nuclear power plants.

Entergy Nuclear, operator of the Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan and the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego, would foot the largest bill. The state is asking for nearly $7.52 million to cover security patrols at those reactors.

“We believe it is appropriate for the direct beneficiaries of this security presence, the plant operators, to be responsible for its associated costs,” said Matt Anderson, spokesman for the Division of the Budget.

Since September 2001, New York has posted military details in and around nuclear sites. Indian Point, just 35 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, has the largest troop presence. Eighty-four Army National Guardsmen and 15 members of the New York Naval Militia are assigned to the site, at an annual cost of about $6.25 million.

National Guard and Naval Militia members patrol at a number of sites throughout the state, including airports and New York City subways. Nuclear power plants are the only locations where troops offer protection to private entities.

“There’s no reason taxpayers should be footing the bill for Entergy,” said Jason Babbie, senior environmental policy analyst with the New York Public Interest Research Group.

Entergy might beg to differ. The New Orleans-based company said the state decided to provide the assistance. Entergy said its security plan is well within federal guidelines, with or without support from the military.

“We enjoy having them here, and they do add to our security features at the plant,” but the troops aren’t required, Entergy spokeswoman Robyn Bentley said. Indian Point has its own private security team of more than 200 employees that meets standards set by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

“Right now, those requirements do not involve National Guard,” NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said. “For instance, when we go in and do security inspections, we’re not looking at the National Guard. They are above and beyond the security program.”

Would Entergy be willing to pay for added protection?

“Entergy is looking forward to sitting down and talking to the current administration about that funding,” Bentley said.

Spitzer proposed a similar reimbursement in last year’s budget, asking for $13 million from the nuclear power plants to pay for extra security. The state Legislature squashed the proposal.

Was Spitzer going to be able to get this money from these Energy Corporations? I doubt it. Many on the taskforce I work on (mentioned in the article) doubted it. Of course they also thought that because he was a Democrat he was going to cut our mission last year when he took office. Now we’ll have to wait and see what the Lt. Governor does when Spitzer resigns.