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Wednesday, April 20, 2011 | 11:02 a.m.
For a small state such as Nevada, having the Senate majority leader is an obvious boon. But the state also has been covered by obtaining highly coveted seats on the Senate and House money committees.
By the end of 2012, those will be gone.
One of the untold stories of the political decisions of the last few months – Sen. John Ensign’s retirement, Reps. Dean Heller and Shelley Berkley running for his seat – is that Nevada will lose two seats on Ways and Means and one on Senate Finance. It took years for Ensign to get on the financial panel and Berkley had to surmount her frosty relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to get on Ways and Means.
That clout is gone, probably not to soon return because freshmen usually don't win those coveted assignments.
“Here we’ve had the perfect world for us; now we’re going to have zero,” lamented one insider.
Why is this so critical?
All tax measures are given birth from the Ways and Means womb and in the Club of 100, and Senate Finance is pivotal in the upper chamber. Now the state is left with uncertainty.
Ensign did it to himself and Berkley and Heller can’t be faulted, I suppose, for their ambition. But the real-world implications for the state, especially since Harry Reid won’t be there forever and may not even be majority leader next session, can’t be underestimated.
Jon: Let's not confuse being a member of a committee with having "clout". I'm yet to hear of one of the three sitting in these influential positions doing anything of benefit for the Nation, much less Nevada. Oh, there was Ensign's inane idea to give corporations a "virtual" tax holiday were they to bring their offshore profits into the US. Typical Ensign, not really thinking it through, in that overseas profits should never be taxed just as the the jobs he voted to send overseas are never taxed. He should have been bolder and argued the benefits of collecting taxes on the ensuing dividends returned to the shareholders.
Heller has done nothing on Ways and Means which explains his vote against the budget deal and (I predict) his upcoming nay vote on increasing the budget ceiling which will only serve to roil the financial markets in addition to increasing the cost of financing our existing debt. He may be politically correct and a darling of the Republican Tea Party but Heller is fiscally stupid. Obviously, his wife is running the household finances.
And then there's Berkley who has proposed nothing of cvonsequence. No harm, no foul? I think not vis-a-vis supporting her for higher office. We need political risk takers devoted to creating the jobs and tax revenue that will keep our country moving forward. Fulfilling the definition of matter won't cut it anymore Citizen Berkley.
In the final analysis, Jon, you are correct in that Harry Reid is the only member of the Nevada delegation that not only has clout, but has skillfully employed such to our benefit. Primary evidence of that is Tim Pawlenty appearing on your program last night to grovel for caucus support. Thanks to our Senator Reid, any individual seeking the path to the White House has to pay strict attention to the needs of Nevada and that is the very definition of clout.
But the longer they serve on their committees, the more "cout" they have. So losing their seniority is not good for Nevada. Either Berkeley or Heller should run for Senate, NOT both. We lose two slots gaining Seniority in exchange for three (one new Senator and two new Representatives) starting at the bottom.
"For a small state such as Nevada, having the Senate majority leader is an obvious boon. "
Really ? How ? What has Reid done lately than kissing Obama's and Pelosi's behind, ramming Obamacare down our throats and getting himself reelected thanks to the moron GOP fielding that lunatic Angle ?
"We need political risk takers devoted to creating the jobs and tax revenue that will keep our country moving forward." by By SMScom (Stephen Sanders)
April 20, 2011 3:37 p.m I say Amen to Mr. Sanders comment. If we keep voting for corporate funded candidates based on corporate controlled media, we will continue to get corporate run government. The corporate interest is not the public interest.
I am so glad Ensign is out what he did while in congress is Disgrace to Nevadans. I guess love is the key to happiness because I wonder how someone can sleep with someone knowing they took their love for granted. That's another Book that needs to be written though.Berkley should be given a chance to shine for Nevada since several senators really don't make time for Nevadans. Many of the Elected Nevada senators have imposed much heart-ship among the Nevadans.Berkley really have to step it up a notch and be a strong voice for us Nevadans. I won't speak on Harry Reid because to me he just haven't proved himself enough for the Injured claimants, senator Reid dropped the ball in that area. We the injured claimants due to an on the job injury with supervisors admitting fault on the behalf of the jobs. Have somehow been Overlooked by our Nevada senators that is the reason we need someone With A Strong Voice to represent All Nevadans that so desperately need the Voice of A Strong Leader. Let's hope the right person get chosen.
What has all this seniority done for Nevada lately.
We are #1 in unemployment, foreclosures & bankruptcies. #50 in education.
I say lets get some new faces in office. Instead of these self serving lifetime politicians we now have. I don't much care what party they are in either.