Voinovich to boycott pop star's testimony

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Jun 06, 2002 Source: The Plain Dealer Submitted By: Amanda Busic Written by: Elizabeth Auster, Plain Dealer Bureau, Washington - Sen. George Voinovich insists he has nothing against pop stars like the Backstreet Boys. Or supermodels like Christie Brinkley. He's just tired of politicians fawning all over them, he says. So today, the Ohio Republican will make his stand. He plans to boycott a Senate hearing where Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys is scheduled to testify on the dangers of mountaintop coal mining. "It's just a joke to think that this witness can provide members of the United States Senate with information on important geological and water quality issues," Voinovich said in a written statement. "We're either serious about the issues or we're running a sideshow. Someone needs to make up their mind." Vicki Hanna, a spokeswoman for the star, said that perhaps it is Voinovich who is "misinformed and isn't very well-educated on what Kevin has been doing on this issue." Hanna noted that Richardson, a native Kentuckian, has established an environmental foundation and recently flew over coal-mining areas to learn more about mountaintop mining. The practice involves stripping away the tops of mountains to extract coal. "Kevin is a smart celebrity," said Hanna. "He's grown up in the area. It's his home. He cares deeply about the people and he just wants to do anything he can to help. Getting people to talk about the issue is a great start." Richardson is expected to criticize the Bush administration at the hearing and at a news conference later today for allowing debris from coal mines to be deposited near streams. Voinovich said that he, too, has "serious concerns" about the environmental impact of mountaintop mining. Nonetheless, Voinovich called Richardson's appearance a "media stunt" and said it is "part of a disturbing trend" by the panel's Democratic leaders to call celebrity witnesses. He noted that Brinkley, the supermodel, testified earlier this year on nuclear energy. A spokesman for Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic chairman of the panel running today's hearing, said he thinks it is wise to "hear from a wide range of voices." For his part, Voinovich took pains to make clear that he doesn't object in every case to musicians lending their voices to serious causes. He said that U2 singer Bono, who recently traveled to Africa with Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, has become an expert on debt relief and international development. "I pushed hard to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Cleveland. This isn't about music, it's about substance," said Voinovich. "Even if this guy [Richardson] was a polka musician, I would still object to him." Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: Mark Submitted by: Monika Submitted by: Lemat Submitted by: Jennifer Submitted by: Eugene Submitted by: Paulo Submitted by: Shawn Submitted by: Edd Submitted by: Mark Comment on this item. Next Item: No Harmony at Senate Hearing with Backstreet Boy Prev Item: Transcript of Kevin's Senate Committee Testimony