@1: Rand Paul doesn't rationalize things. He just knows it's okay if he does it, because he is a Patriotic Real American and a Christian.

But but but....

I thought the federal government taking my money to give it to others wasn't theft but taxation.

Go ahead sloggers who tell me this all the time, read Goldstein the riot act!

Hello? Sloggers? Oh. Just a bunch of hypocrites than?

Rand is probably taking after his father, who votes "no" on every spending bill EXCEPT the ones that will specifically go to his constituents.

do you know what you can buy with 5.9 million in paducah?

you can buy paducah.

not that you'd want it.

Right wingers have no conscience about being corrupt. To them, any government program that doesn't 1) imprison people, 2) kill people (war, etc.) or 3) protect their property is unnecessary and ultimately represents an immoral transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor. So to them ripping off a system that is already wildly corrupt (just because it exists and doesn't do one of the three above) is totally acceptable. To them its all just a game and if large numbers of people suffer from their actions, meh.

Another example of the parasitic red states taking resources from the blue states.

Wow. Newsweek is doing some real reporting these days. I'm not quite so embarrassed that my company is partnering with them.

Also:

As the only state lawmaker sitting on Energy Northwest's executive board, I have contacted state Senator Tim Sheldon (?-Potlatch) for comment.

You do realize that you just said that *you* are a lawmaker who's sitting on Energy Northwest's executive board?

@4,

No. He still voted "no" on those (after getting them laden with as much pork for his constituents as possible), because he knew they would pass anyway.

@ 3, if mental gymnastics were a competition, you'd be the Michael Phelps of the sport.

@10

Are you mixing sports metaphors?

Yes, a hydroelectric dam doesn't need nuclear fuel, but is a member of the power grid and does occasionally use nuclear-produced electricity purchased on the semi-open market.

Or do you feel it's wrong to pay into a healthcare insurance system when you're not sick right now or that some of your premiums may support abortions or gender change operations or whatnot you don't agree with or intend to use (well, not sure about that last one...).

@ 11, well, I suppose I could have called him the Nadia Comaneci or Mary Lou Retton of the sport, but I thought comparing him to the most decorated Olympian of modern times was more suitable.

There's nothing in "Bootstrapping" that says you can't steal other people's boots beforehand.

@12 read article BEFORE commenting, or you make yourself look stupid.

"...if mental gymnastics were a competition, you'd be the Nadia Comăneci of the sport."

@13
If we're mixing sports, I think Ben Jonson would be better.

Goldy: I hope you have a chance to follow Sheldon and Tom when they get their payoffs down the line. I know we won't be able to do much, but we can at least try to publicly shame them a little bit when the time comes.

Seattleblahs, you don't understand the difference between taxation and utility payments? No wonder you can't hold a job....

Non-northwestern GOP types have been gunning for BPA forever. This is just the latest twist.

O@20

Oh, well if no federal money is being spent this isn't an issue for the feds anyway, right?

What? Taxpayer money is being spent? Sorry where does taxpayer money come from again? I realize you work for a union AND a utility, which means you haven't the faintest understanding of how the world works, but do try to keep up.

Oh now, Seattleblahs, don't be bitter. There's a job out there for you. Just keep trying - and that includes working on that attitude, dear. Just remember: when you start to get frustrated, stop, count to ten, and say our mantra "pins and needles/needles and pins, a happy person is a person who grins!"

There's a Tony Robbins seminar in Las Vegas in August. Maybe we could take up a collection here on Slog to buy you a ticket. Just stay out of those casinos, LOL!!!!!

If we have to subsidize these hillbillies, I'd rather just send them sacks of cash and call it a day. It would undoubtedly cost less than this kabuki theater, and be a damn sight less damaging to the environment too boot.

@21: What are you, an idiot? Don't answer that.
If it crosses state lines, it is ABSOLUTELY a federal issue. That was established very early on, as states struggled to decide whether the state of the buyer or the state of the seller would have jurisdiction over interstate commerce. To avoid disputes and ambiguity, the federal government takes over as soon as it goes over the border.
Most crimes become federal offenses as soon as evidence, stolen property, or victims (or their bodies) are taken across state lines. If commerce is done between parties in multiple states, it's subject to federal law. And as much as you refuse to acknowledge the law and the judicial precedent, if you affect market price of commodities in a different state, Uncle Sam has a right to say something about it. IF IT CROSSES STATE LINES, IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.
Who doesn't understand how the world works now?

@22

Thanks for the concern! But, umm, haven't looked for employment in 4 years. Though I do wonder, if the unemployed need infinite unemployment because there aren't jobs how is it I turn down at least one offer a year for construction management and I'm not even looking?

@ 25, see @ 10.

But SB, if your comment @ 25 actually, you know, had anything to do with anything, I'd say the answer you're turning down jobs is because you're dawdling on the other ones.

"In essence, Uncle Sam made his rich Western niece, BPA, take out a loan and give that money to her cash-poor sister, TVA.

BPA did as instructed but insisted on unusual conditions to protect it in the event Enrichment went broke before the work was completed. Those provisions included having Enrichment transfer ownership of the finished fuel to the Energy Department, which in turn sold it to BPA, a strategy that would insulate BPA from claims by Enrichment's creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding."

And this, boys and girls, is crony capitalism at it's finest. So, in short, this is what happens when the State tries to do business. Good times!

That Fukushima line is entirely meant as bait.

Fukushima's plant isn't that poor a design, it even shut down as designed following the quake. It's just that when shutdown you also need the generators to keep powering the cooling water pumps and those generators were all but obliterated by a tsunami.

What is the chance of Pasco WA experiencing a tsunami ? I guess you can add more redundancy to the cooling system if you're really worried.

Seattleblahs, ixnay on the obsjay alktay. You never know if the unemployment or L&I folks are lurking on this board, and that could open up a whole world of trouble for you.

Whatever. Don't you have a job real working folk pay utility rates to overpay you to do?

FYI- I've never collected a dime of unemployment, food stamps, or any other government bullshit in my life. It's called paying your own way, but you wouldn't understand that.

@26

Wasn't writing anything to or about you Mile High. I'd say let the adults talk, but that would exclude all liberals, not just you.

Oh Seattleblahs, it just breaks my heart when you say the only adults that will talk to you are liberals. But really, it's better that way. Conservatives are horrible people - especially to people like you, who are down through no fault if their own. Normal people understand that sometimes bad things happen to good people, but not conservatives. All they do is complain and blame others for their problems. You don't need to listen to that - you've got your own troubles.

It's good of you to inquire about my job. I'm off today! Just doing some stuff around the house (someday you'll know what that's like). If I'd been thinking, I'd have asked you over to do some simple tasks, maybe slip you a few bucks, give you a hot meal. Maybe next time.

@ 32, hey, you're the one who evicts rent-paying tenants in childish fits of pique. So mature! I'm sure Jesus was impressed.

@33

You couldn't afford my hourly rates.

Plus, working around your house would involve a hazmat suit, positive air and post job inoculations not to mention a strong stomach. Not worth it to fix that disco ball over the Murphy bed, really...

Seattleblahs, I'm a married woman! By "simple tasks" I meant things like raking the yard, cleaning out the fireplace, etc, and you seem to have something else entirely in mind. Are you dabbling in sex work?

(Although I must say that I like your Murphy Bed/Disco Ball idea. )

SB as a gigolo is a terrifying thought.

There is dignity in sex work. Don't take that away from Seattleblahs (although it sounds like maybe Dan should have a word with him about at-risk behaviors and harm reduction. I didn't understand half the things he was offering, and I've been around).

@36

It's like English is a second language for you two. And one you're just beginning adventures in...

Seattleblahs, are you trying to proposition Matt and I?

I'm not going anywhere near a nude SB. Nobody should have to see that. His wife shouldn't have to see that.

Yep. Liberals- can't understand basic English and minds in the gutter ...

wow. what got SB all fired up today?

Say what you want, Seattleblahs, but I'm not the one defrauding L&I and turning tricks on the side. We'll be here for you when you hit bottom.

Seattleblues, care to respond to what I said about what falls under federal purview? Or are you just going to trade gibes with Ms. Vel-DuRay?

@46: "lying hyper partisan bigoted anti American sack of crap." Hm, that description reminds me of someone........

Who could it be, who could it be...

Catalina, help me out here?

@42 - from the person who wrote "post job inoculation."

@46: You nitwit, the Bonneville Power Administration (the utility that got the shit end of the stick) is a federal agency. THAT is how Paul and McConnell have leverage over the deal; they pushed the deal through as a condition of lifting holds on Department of Energy nominees. Read the article next time before you share your feeble-minded opinions with us.
Next!

Hanoumatoi, go easy on dear Seattleblahs. His mother watched nothing but anti-Communist propaganda films when she was carrying him. Because of that, he can't achieve orgasm without an episode of "Dragnet" playing in the background. It's no wonder he's so crabby all the time.

@50: By the way, your house looks lovely, and I'm officially an internet stalker now. Does Kelly have her own account on Slog?

My Kelly on Slog? What kind of mother do you think I am?

Unfortunately, your publication has fallen into the same trap as others that are re-printing excerpts from the Newsweek piece - and therefore it's myriad errors.

Here is the response we sent to Newsweek following the publication of the article:

We appreciated the opportunity to speak with David on this piece. For some clarity:

The agreements between Energy Northwest, TVA, USEC and DOE were part of an initiative to turn depleted uranium into low-cost nuclear fuel, and those agreements are now generating tens of millions of dollars in additional rate case savings (2014-2017) for Northwest ratepayers. Additionally, the cost predictability achieved by these agreements will provide tens of millions of dollars more in regional savings through 2028.

These significant savings during the life of the transaction enable the Bonneville Power Administration to reduce current and future proposed rate increases to Northwest ratepayers. Every $40 million in savings over a two-year rate case period equates to approximately a 1% reduction in rates.

Another positive for the region is that Northwest ratepayers are protected against future increases in fuel prices by a margin of approximately $103.9 million, and the region has an inventory of fuel procured at approximately 27.4 % of the current spot market price.

In essence, Northwest ratepayers purchased more than $236 million of fuel for less than $65 million and are additionally protected from increases in fuel prices through 2028.

Finally, please note that Energy Northwest is a Washington State joint operating agency – a state public power entity, not an arm of the federal government.

Visit our website, EnergyNorthwest.com, for more information on how we are providing value and clean energy to the Northwest.