Columnist Jeff German: Reid, Nevada stand to benefit from Lautenberg’s retirement

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 11:42 a.m.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., has given politicos and casino bosses from coast to coast reason to talk up a storm.

His decision not to seek re-election in 2000 is seen as hurting the Democratic Party's chances of cutting into the 55-45 Republican majority in the Senate. Of the seats up for grabs in two years, 19 are Republicans and 14 are Democrats.

With Lautenberg, who joined the Senate in 1983, out of the race, Republicans have a strong shot at picking up his seat.

But one prominent Democrat, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate's minority whip, may not be all that unhappy about losing Lautenberg. Reid, who has been in the Senate since 1987, stands to move up another notch in seniority.

Reid aides can't believe their senator's good fortune in recent months.

First, Reid barely survives a tough re-election race and then goes on to get elected minority whip, the second most powerful Senate post among Democrats. Now, thanks to Lautenberg and New York Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who also is retiring, Reid stands to increase his clout even more.

Reid could become either chairman or the ranking minority member on two key Senate panels, the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. Both deal with important highway funding.

Whatever happens in 2000, Reid should be in a position on the Environment and Public Works Committee to help write the formulas that determine highway and transportation funding for the states, including fast-growing Nevada.

And having Reid at the top of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee will benefit McCarran International Airport, which always is looking for federal dollars to help with its ongoing expansion. Booking more flights to Las Vegas has become one of the most important issues facing the casino industry as it brings thousands of new hotel rooms on line over the next couple of years.

The downside to Lautenberg's retirement, however, is real for Democrats.

His departure opens the door for Republican New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman, who many expect will become the front-runner in the race if she decides to run.

And that could cause a split among casino bosses as they take up sides.

Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, who wants to build a hotel-casino in Atlantic City, is a strong Whitman supporter. Others in the casino industry also like her.

But rival gaming mogul Arthur Goldberg, president of Park Place Entertainment Corp., is expected to back whichever Democrat enters the race. Goldberg is close to New Jersey's other senator, Robert Torricelli, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

It's Torricelli's job to recruit Senate candidates, and you can be sure he's going to work overtime in his home state.

With Torricelli, gaming's golden boy in New Jersey, pushing extra hard for the Democrat, there's going to be more pressure than usual on the casino industry to back the right candidate in the Garden State.

It may be one of those races where casino bosses will have to hedge their bets.

Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson is stepping up his political influence again in Nevada.

Adelson has hired the consulting firm of Lynam Werner Communications to give him a presence at the Nevada Legislature. The firm is headed by Republican activists and lobbyists Keith Lynam and Matthew Werner.

The hiring gives Adelson the voice of reason he never had in Carson City when ex-GOP official George Harris handled his political affairs.

Harris, who has managed to fall out of favor with Adelson, the GOP and Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn, is said to be doing his best to undermine Lynam and Werner. But word is he's only making himself look foolish. Nothing new there.

Lynam and Werner, meanwhile, will come in handy when the Culinary Union escalates its battle with the Venetian boss in the coming weeks.