Porter considered for Ways-Means

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.

WASHINGTON-- Nevada has not been represented in a key House Committee since 1998, but that could change in early 2005.

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., is being considered as a possible replacement for retiring Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., on the prestigious House Ways and Means Committee.

All tax bills originate in the committee, so a seat would be good news for gaming, mining and other Nevada industries.

Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call first mentioned the possible appoinment Monday, adding that some lawmakers want McInnis' replacement to be another member from a Western state.

Porter spokeswoman Traci Scott confirmed today that the possible appointment has been discussed, but cautioned that it was still a year and a half away. She noted Porter still needs to get through the next session of Congress and be re-elected, so nothing was a done deal yet.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., formerly held a seat on the committee when he was a House member in 1998.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who won Ensign's seat after he left to run for the Senate, has tried to get on the committee since being elected.

She had been working with former Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo. to get a seat, but the process changed when current Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. took over.

Berkley spokesman David Cherry said Nevada needs a seat on the committee, and Berkley supports Porter's possible appointment.

Cherry said Berkley has not ruled out getting a seat on the committee but has accumulated seniority on her own committees, so she would have to evaluate starting over on a new one.

Cherry said two seats would be better than one on Ways and Means and that having bipartisan members there would be the way to go.