Reid’s role in Senate shrinks

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- By Tuesday night it had already been a long week for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a politician who wasn't even in an Election Day race.

The majority whip, back in Nevada after campaigning for Democrat Walter Mondale in Minnesota, watched anxiously as control of the Senate slipped to the Republicans and as his title faded to minority whip.

With that, Reid's power diminished and his day-to-day control of the floor evaporated. But observers said he still wields great influence.

"He's very effective as a power broker and that will continue," University of Nevada, Las Vegas political science professor Ted Jelen said.

Reid will still funnel money to Nevada for special projects as one of the chamber's most effective "pork-barrel" politicians, said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

On that point, Reid agreed. "It'll be more difficult, but I think I'll still do OK," he said.

The Democrats will officially be out of power in the Senate come the new Congress in January, although the power could shift as soon as next week in the lame-duck session if a newly elected Republican senator from Missouri is allowed to attend.

Herzik noted that the power shift means Reid will relinquish the gavel on several panels, including as chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water development, which has influence over the Yucca Mountain project budget. Reid's influence as the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee also slips.

"There's a big difference between being a majority leader and being that voice of the minority," Herzik said.

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., sympathized with his former ally as returns were trickling in Tuesday.

"Even if the Republicans gain control, Sen. Reid is still going to be a significant player on the Senate stage," Bryan said. "But clearly, it's better for Nevada if he is in the majority.

"Look, hey, I've been there, and it's much more enjoyable when you are in the majority. You preside on the committees, you decide which hearings are set, you have control over which witnesses participate."

Reid seemed to accept his lot today with quiet disappointment but no less resolve.

Reid loses the primary function of the majority whip: to manage the daily operations of the Senate floor.

The job made Reid among the most visible lawmakers in Congress. In close consultation with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. -- the two meet virtually every morning in Daschle's office in the Capitol -- Reid controlled topics for debate and voting schedules, and who got speaking time.

The majority whip's position gave Reid a soapbox, which Reid often used to challenge GOP initiatives and President Bush's agenda. Reid has criticized the president on a number of environmental proposals, and recently Reid asked the General Accounting Office to investigate whether Bush spent taxpayer money to pay for campaign trips.

Reid vowed to continue to be a thorn in Bush's side. "I'll keep doing what I think is right," Reid said.

Reid said the Democrats lacked a clear message, despite their effort to pin the faltering economy on the Republicans and explain the failings of GOP-linked corporate America.

"The people were impressed with Bush, and homeland security and Iraq," Reid said. "Any discussions we had of economic policy just didn't sell."

Reid, chuckling, said Republicans are already trying to downplay expectations.

"They have everything now," Reid said. "You can't back-pedal now and say, 'Oh, we may not be able to get everything done.' "

Reid is also unlikely to shrink from his role as a campaign activist. He stumped for Senate Democratic candidates in Missouri, Minnesota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Colorado.

Today he declined to discuss 2004 races in Nevada, including his own. "It's way too early to talk about that," he said.

Reid has been an active player in the money game. Since the beginning of 2001, Reid has doled out about $1.6 million from his Searchlight Leadership political action committee and his personal campaign coffer to House and Senate candidates and Democratic committees, according to Federal Election Commission documents and Reid's office.

In the last two years Reid gave $10,000 each to a variety of Democrats: liberal ally Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif; Sen. Jean Carnahan who lost a close race in Missouri; and Colorado Democrat Tom Strickland, who also lost.

Reid's Searchlight PAC gave $10,000 to Dario Herrera, who lost his bid to become the first person elected to Nevada's new third House seat. Reid gave $5,000 to victor incumbent Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

The PAC also gave $10,000 to the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., whose seat fell to GOP challenger Norm Coleman. Reid also gave Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., $10,000 in May. Torricelli dropped out of the race in September.

"That guy always stuck with me" especially when it came to Yucca Mountain, Reid said of the embattled Torricelli.

On Oct. 3, Reid cut a $5,000 check for Torricelli's replacement, the newly elected Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. -- just two days after Lautenberg got into the race.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., doesn't put much stock in the Democrats' argument that Nevada is better off with Democrats controlling the Senate because of Reid's leadership position.

"Sen. Reid is in a powerful position whether he is in the majority or the minority," Ensign said.

Observers said Reid stood much more to lose than Ensign stood to gain in the election.

But Reid's title change won't hurt Nevada or Reid's political future that much, UNLV's Jelen said. Reid will continue to be in the middle of Senate battles, Jelen said.

"President Bush will have to deal with the Senate regardless of which party controls it," Jelen said. "And the president doesn't have automatic control of the Republicans."

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