Home
http://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2014/04/14/reid-bundy-standoff-thing/7718089/
Last week's standoff between Southern Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bureau of Land Management "is not over," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told a gathering of students, professors and political candidates Monday at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Reid,speaking at an event hosted by The Young Democrats, declined to go into detail about the controversy that has emerged from Bundy's long-standing refusal to pay federal grazing fees for his cattle. Reid also gave short answers on the subject before the students and faced questioning from a non-student who was highly critical.
"I have been very clear in saying this thing is not over, OK?" Reid said as he was walking out the door of the meeting room at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. "It's not over. You can't have someone violate the law. I have said that many times."
Federal authorizes have said Bundy owes more than $1 million in grazing fees he has not paid for 20 years. Yet Bundy,67,has reportedly said he does not recognize federal authority on land he insists belongs to Nevada. His Mormon family has operated a ranch since the late 19th century near the tiny town of Bunkerville and the Utah and Arizona borders.
"There is no question that there were a lot of things going on down there with breaking the law," Reid said. "And that is not over yet. We can't let that continue. So I'm sure it is not the end of it."
Kim Kollman,who later identified himself as a former teacher at Truckee Meadows Community College,confronted Reid during a question-and-answer session over the issue. Kollman asked Reid if he was in collusion with his son and the "Communist Chinese" to forcibly remove Bundy from his property to help bring more solar energy to Southern Nevada. Kollman said Reid was "papering over" the question of possible collusion.
Reid replied,"That is an easy question to paper over. Do you know what you just said? Please read something else. And that is how I'm going to respond to that question."
The crowd applauded Reid. Kollman then asked Reid,"What are you afraid of,sir?" before Kollman was asked by an organizer to sit down,which he did.
In 2012,Reuters reported that Reid and his oldest son,former Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid,were both involved in an effort by a Chinese energy giant,ENN Energy Group,to build a $5 billion solar farm and panel manufacturing plant in the southern Nevada desert.
Kollman left the room shortly after sitting down.
"He stonewalled it, rather sloppily, I might add," Kollman said of Reid. "It was an embarrassment, first of all, to this gathering of fine young students in an institution of higher learning. It was an embarrassment to them that he would not go, shall we say, toe-to-toe with someone who necessarily does not support his opinion but is certainly willing to give him the opportunity to explain himself on a very salient issue that is concerning the residents of the state of Nevada."
Kollman also tried to ask Reid about any current or former BLM members on his or his son's staff but Reid shot back,cutting him off by asking,"What about my son?"
The new head of the Bureau of Land Management,Neil Kornze of Elko, was named to his new post just days before the Bundy-BLM standoff. Before moving to the BLM, Kornze served as senior policy adviser for Reid,working on public lands issues.
Some Republicans balked at Kornze's age of 35 during hearings, according to the Washington Post. Yet Kornze earned Senate confirmation with a 71-28 vote on April 8. Reid referred to Kornze as " somebody that is just perfect for the job," after he received Senate confirmation as BLM director.
Last week's standoff between Southern Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and the Bureau of Land Management "is not over," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told a gathering of students, professors and political candidates Monday at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Reid,speaking at an event hosted by The Young Democrats, declined to go into detail about the controversy that has emerged from Bundy's long-standing refusal to pay federal grazing fees for his cattle. Reid also gave short answers on the subject before the students and faced questioning from a non-student who was highly critical.
"I have been very clear in saying this thing is not over, OK?" Reid said as he was walking out the door of the meeting room at the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. "It's not over. You can't have someone violate the law. I have said that many times."
Federal authorizes have said Bundy owes more than $1 million in grazing fees he has not paid for 20 years. Yet Bundy,67,has reportedly said he does not recognize federal authority on land he insists belongs to Nevada. His Mormon family has operated a ranch since the late 19th century near the tiny town of Bunkerville and the Utah and Arizona borders.
"There is no question that there were a lot of things going on down there with breaking the law," Reid said. "And that is not over yet. We can't let that continue. So I'm sure it is not the end of it."
Kim Kollman,who later identified himself as a former teacher at Truckee Meadows Community College,confronted Reid during a question-and-answer session over the issue. Kollman asked Reid if he was in collusion with his son and the "Communist Chinese" to forcibly remove Bundy from his property to help bring more solar energy to Southern Nevada. Kollman said Reid was "papering over" the question of possible collusion.
Reid replied,"That is an easy question to paper over. Do you know what you just said? Please read something else. And that is how I'm going to respond to that question."
The crowd applauded Reid. Kollman then asked Reid,"What are you afraid of,sir?" before Kollman was asked by an organizer to sit down,which he did.
In 2012,Reuters reported that Reid and his oldest son,former Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid,were both involved in an effort by a Chinese energy giant,ENN Energy Group,to build a $5 billion solar farm and panel manufacturing plant in the southern Nevada desert.
Kollman left the room shortly after sitting down.
"He stonewalled it, rather sloppily, I might add," Kollman said of Reid. "It was an embarrassment, first of all, to this gathering of fine young students in an institution of higher learning. It was an embarrassment to them that he would not go, shall we say, toe-to-toe with someone who necessarily does not support his opinion but is certainly willing to give him the opportunity to explain himself on a very salient issue that is concerning the residents of the state of Nevada."
Kollman also tried to ask Reid about any current or former BLM members on his or his son's staff but Reid shot back,cutting him off by asking,"What about my son?"
The new head of the Bureau of Land Management,Neil Kornze of Elko, was named to his new post just days before the Bundy-BLM standoff. Before moving to the BLM, Kornze served as senior policy adviser for Reid,working on public lands issues.
Some Republicans balked at Kornze's age of 35 during hearings, according to the Washington Post. Yet Kornze earned Senate confirmation with a 71-28 vote on April 8. Reid referred to Kornze as " somebody that is just perfect for the job," after he received Senate confirmation as BLM director.
