Ensign continues to oppose bill

Suzanne Struglinski

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004 | 9:35 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada Sen. John Ensign will continue to oppose the $820 billion spending bill now being debated in the Senate as it tries to wrap up last year's business.

The Republican broke party lines Tuesday and voted in favor of continuing debate on the giant spending bill that would finish funding 11 Cabinet departments and a slew of other federal agencies. Senate Democrats have been delaying the bill since December in an effort to change some provisions in it. Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, a Democrat, also voted against the ending the debate. Another vote was expected today.

Ensign's review of the massive spending bill, called an omnibus, was "lengthy and comprehensive," spokesman Jack Finn said. "It was clear to him early on that it was going to be tough to support it because of his strong belief that government spending must be curtailed," he said.

Four other Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tenn., as well as Sen.. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., voted against allowing the bill to move forward. Six Democrats, including presidential hopefuls John Edwards, D-N.C., John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and one Republican did not vote.

Finn said Ensign told Republican leadership of his decision through a series of face-to-face conversations and phone calls. He said there are no hard feelings and he didn't expect any backlash.

"Sen. Ensign has developed a reputation for voting his conscience and staying firm on questions of principle, and he's respected for it," Finn said.

Finn said there was too much to pin down on what Ensign specifically opposed, but mainly that it was "too big" as the country battles high deficits.

Fiscal year 2004 started Oct. 1 but Congress finished only seven of the 13 appropriations bills that fund various agencies and federal programs. This bill would supply money for argiculture programs, some foreign aid, the Justice Department and veterans and housing programs.

The House passed its final version of the bill Dec. 8. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Reps. Jon Porter and Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., all voted in its favor.

President Bush is expected to release his 2005 budget in two weeks and the process will start all over again.