Hanford Nuclear Reservation

When the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Initiative 297, which blocks continued nuclear waste from being disposed at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, was unconstitutional, it affected more than just advocates of the Hanford situation. Because of the parties involved, the decision may have an impact on some of the state's political races, as well.

Politics, especially when it comes to environmental issues, often crosses political boundaries. Such was the case Sunday in Pendleton, Ore. At a rally there, Barack Obama was asked about his policy regarding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation cleanup. Obama was stumped.

"Here's something that you will rarely hear from a politician, and that is that I'm not familiar with the Hanford site, so I don't know exactly what's going on there," he answered. "Now, having said that, I promise you I'll learn about it by the time I leave here on the ride back to the airport."