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Sali, Minnick Spar Over Snake River Dam Breaching by John Miller, Associated Press The Olympian, October 18, 2008

BOISE, Idaho - Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali and his Democratic challenger Walt Minnick are sparring over Minnick's stance on breaching Snake River dams to help salmon In their 1st Congressional District race.

Sali says Minnick backed tearing down the dams in a 2003 interview when he said, "We only have hopefully one more lawsuit to say, as a matter of law, that if we're going to recover the salmon, that dams have to come down now."

Minnick denied that he favors dam breaching, saying he instead supports keeping all options open while encouraging rivaling sides to talk.

Sali today accused Minnick of being dishonest about his position in a bid not to alienate voters in western and northern Idaho who favor keeping the dams.

The dams generate electricity and help promote the region's inland shipping industry centered in Lewiston, but also block endangered salmon swimming to-and-from the Pacific Ocean.