Congresswoman Shelley Berkley

WASHINGTON — About an hour before the Senate gave final approval Thursday to the latest funding cuts to the Yucca Mountain project, the projectÕs end was neatly summed up during an elevator ride on the other side of the Capitol. Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley hustled out of the House chamber and into the crowded elevator full of representatives and reporters heading back to their offices after a series of votes. One reporter was asking a lawmaker whether there exists in the House a nuclear caucus — a group of representatives working to benefit nuclear power. Before the lawmaker could reply, Berkley piped up. ÒThereÕs ... Read Full Story

WASHINGTON On her latest trip to the Middle East, Rep. Shelley Berkley burnished her credentials as one of the leading Democrats in Congress willing to speak out against the Obama administrations policies toward Israel. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Berkley, D-Las Vegas, reiterated her stance that natural population growth should be allowed in West Bank settlements, in direct opposition to President Barack Obamas stated position. In a brief interview Tuesday from Las Vegas, Berkley said she feels compelled to speak her mind on Israel, even if it means being critical of the leader of her party. We just have a disagreement, Berkley ... Read Full Story

WASHINGTON — More than 2,700 Las Vegas residents joined Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley for a telephone town hall Thursday evening, firing off about a dozen questions on the health care bill making its way through Congress. The exchanges between Berkley and her constituents provided a glimpse at concerns about the legislation. Here are a few exchanges: Frederick wanted to know whether the proposed government-offered health care plan would be as good as the care he receives through Veterans Affairs. Berkley replied, ÒThis legislation will not affect the health care you are receiving from the VA system.Ó Erica said she supports expanding health care to ... Read Full Story

ItÕs often instructive or amusing to see how media folks elsewhere perceive our elected offi cials. Take Rep. Shelley Berkley. Of the descriptions of her I have read, one from the Jerusalem Post might be the topper: ÒIf you were to trip over Shelley Berkley in the lobby of a fi ve-star Jerusalem hotel, you might be excused for thinking you just bumped into your long lost Aunt Sadie. She dresses like Aunt Sadie, talks like her, has a passion for Israel like her and exudes warmth like her. Except for one major difference: Aunt Sadie was the head of her local Hadassah chapter, ... Read Full Story

I admit up front it was evil. Not in the Oscar Goodman defi nition of evil — anyone who disagrees with him — but in the “this is really mischievous” defi nition of evil. Rep. Shelley Berkley was on “Face to Face” on Friday, and after she strongly expressed her disagreement with Sen. John Ensign’s denial that the U.S. tortured anyone, I asked her whether she would consider supporting Nevada’s own if he ran for president — an idea Ensign all but acknowledged last week has occurred to him. The ever-ready Berkley seemed stunned for a moment and then quickly managed to say it ... Read Full Story