Titus’ star rising as Ensign struggles

Her name is attached to popular legislation; his amendments shot down

By Lisa Mascaro (contact)

Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Dina Titus

John Ensign

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Politics: The Early Line

Washington — Democratic Rep. Dina Titus did not win her first-choice assignment as a freshman for a seat on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.

Nor does she have the clout of her two Nevada colleagues on the equally powerful Ways and Means Committee.

But last week the congresswoman who has been in office just nine months found herself sharing the stage with leaders of both influential panels as she joined them in leading House passage of a bill that will halt Medicare rate increases for seniors.

“This important legislation will protect America’s seniors from an increase in premiums at a time when too many are struggling to make ends meet,” Titus said in a statement jointly released by the committee chairmen.

“My state of Nevada has been hit hard by the economic recession as retirement savings have plummeted in value, putting a greater strain on seniors’ pocketbooks,” she said. “The combination of higher Medicare premiums and no cost-of-living adjustment is unacceptable for seniors who count on every dollar of their benefits.”

The legislation was an unprecedented, if must-pass bill, to stop the annual increase in Medicare Part B premiums.

Many seniors have their Medicare payments deducted from their Social Security checks.

With the dismal economy, Social Security is expected to forego a cost-of-living increase next year for the first time in 35 years. In other words, without the bill, there would be a pay cut for 11 million of the 42 million seniors on Medicare as premiums rise and incomes remain flat.

The bill was a crowd-pleaser. It passed in the House on a 406-18 vote, and now heads to the Senate.

The Nevada branch of AARP immediately thanked Titus for championing it.

This is the life of an up-and-coming freshman lawmaker whom party leaders want to reward (for having knocked off a Republican to win office) and protect (to ensure she wins reelection in a closely divided district).

Titus gets the good assignments.

That same afternoon Republican Sen. John Ensign was deep in debate at the Senate Finance Committee, which has been undertaking the massive health care reform proposal including some of his 30 amendments.

Ensign used the occasion to go after a complaint Republicans have over President Barack Obama’s tendency to appoint “czars” to top administrative posts rather than work through the laborious Senate confirmation process.

Democrats and Republicans over the years have made mischief of confirmations, stalling presidents’ ability to get their team in place.

What does that have to do with health care? Not much. Ensign’s amendment would ensure any czar appointed for health care would be subject to the confirmation process.

This is what you do as a member of the minority party. So much of legislative activity is about making a political statement for the party rather than passing bills.

Ensign’s Democratic colleagues were uninterested. The amendment failed.

Later Ensign offered his top-priority amendment — to cap the proposed expansion of Medicaid at 1 percent of a state’s current Medicaid budget.

This is important in Nevada, where the governor has complained that the state cannot afford to insure more poor people because it has no money. (Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid secured a deal that would bring more funding for the state to help cover the poor.)

Medicaid is a cornerstone of the plan to cover the uninsured, and Republicans saw an opening to blame Democrats for saddling states with the burden.

Ensign’s Democratic colleagues remained uninterested. His amendment failed.

Only earlier did Ensign get the committee to pass an amendment on Medicare once they were told by an outside expert it would be cost-neutral.

Success in Washington has always been a bit of a dice roll — as much about you, as whom you know with power.

Discussion: 22 comments so far…

By Birdiedreamin

9/27/09 at 6:02 a.m.

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johnnie boy ensign is a fraud...
a total and complete fraud...
this little maggot was granted every single advantage in life...
rode mommy and daddy's coat tails all the way to the us senate...
but that wasn't enough for this snot nosed punk...
he had to have his best friend's wife too...
and when he got caught he fired both of them...
just ruined their lives...
then...
then this little maggot went running to mommy and daddy to fix his boo boo...
all while a member of "the family" cult...
and a "promise keeper" to boot...
what a sad clown ensign is...
and by the way...
where the hell is the ethics investigation!!!
By kbc1221

9/27/09 at 6:31 a.m.

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to Birdie:

The way you started that rant, I thought you were going to make a poem out of it. Disappointing....
By lcdrmandingonamvet

9/27/09 at 6:48 a.m.

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Reid, Obama, Holder, and Pelosi (ovaries) need to grow a pair. They let Larry "men's restroom enthusiast" Craig make a mockery of our national security laws. Now the same thing is happening with Ensign. Double-standards for our military personnel.

"ALL" holders of military "top secret" (or higher) security clearances are required to report to the FBI, Congress, and DoD-DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency), if they are ever arrested (DUI, domestice violence, etc.), substance abuser, "BALCKMAILED", receipient of letters of indebtedness, etc. Craig blew off the arrest piece when he was busted for toe-tapping with an undercover police officer. Ensign and his family conspired to hide the fact he was being blakmailed by his HOOCHIE-MAMA.

The worst of the GOP draftdodgers, commie-isders, superchicken-hawks, and surrender monkleys, just might be former congressman Tom "nuke'em till they glow" Tancredo. Tanny was always ranting agaisnt criminal and illegal Mexicans. However, he knowingly hired these "foreign nationals" to perform construction work at hsi primaryu residence. The illegals had unfettetred physical access to Tancredo's congressional supplied personal computer. Tanny never reported his national security compromises either.

The NAACP, NABJ (print-video), and Cong. Black Caucus-CBC-comical balcks in congress, should demand that Obama strip Ensign of his security clearance and jail him. Then Obama should jail Tanny and Craig, and strip this posse of their federal retirement penson too. GHWB pulled this number on former Black federal judge Alcee Hastings, when GHWB busted his for taking a BRIBE. I want some ACORN payback!!!
By LarryVegas

9/27/09 at 7:12 a.m.

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I think both Titus and Ensign could be rising stars for Nevada...

So far, both listen more to their constituents then the party talking points out of Washington D.C.
By cpo

9/27/09 at 7:25 a.m.

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Titus road the coattails of Obama to Washington, and now has swung to the right. She opposes the public option, one of the very things she ran on with Obama. She spends more time hobnobbing with local Republicans then the people who actually elected her. I voted for her, for governor and congress. Never again. I think she will be a one term Congressperson. Ensign , should he decide to run again, will be reelected
By SgtRock

9/27/09 at 8:22 a.m.

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This "news story" is so laughable.

Titus received ZERO top-tier committee assignments.

It is clearly over hyping Titus role in DC.

This "news story" needs to be filed in the circular file cabinet.
By its2hot

9/27/09 at 9:08 a.m.

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This article is a joke. Titus is an idiot just like the rest of them. She'll be dumped and replaced with someone who is less of a lunatic. America can't afford these idiots and the freebies to their followers. Obama said change, this is not the change America bought into nor will America stand for their tactics. They're outta here.
By vegasgurl4fun2

9/27/09 at 9:26 a.m.

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I met Titus years ago, she's very uppity/snooty...(meow)
By Chandler_L

9/27/09 at 9:35 a.m.

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It is unfortunate that as a freshman legislator during this juncture in history, that to win reelection in her district, Dina Titus has had to swing to the center. The main thing to remember is that once she is reelected and once the voting districts are redone, she will be in a better place to serve the true believers of the Democratic Party.

Redistricting is going to be the real consequences of the 2010 election.
By Chandler_L

9/27/09 at 9:41 a.m.

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Hey vegasgurl,

I have never known Dina to be uppity/snooty let alone catty as you imply.

I guess you prefer the greasy, handsome, sweet talker who proffers lie after lie?

Your post reeks of self loathing misogyny.
Providing of course you are actually a female.
By DessertSun

9/27/09 at 10:44 a.m.

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The political shift will happen. Until then you will have a group of arrogant Democratic politicians running rough shot over everything. It's what we get when we give one party too much power over the other. The best solutions will always come from a checks and balance system which we currently do not have under this run away Congress.
By Vegasvampire

9/27/09 at 11:41 a.m.

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Looks like Titus wont be running for Governor this time around. Looks like she'll be Senator Titus come 2012.
By Gregory

9/27/09 at 11:43 a.m.

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Senator Ensign is going to have big problem with the Spanish vote in Nevada, you know, the ones who are working in the state's largest (and just about only) industry, doing the real work that creates profits for Ensign's biggest financial supporters, day to day. Their children are the new majority in public schools also.

It doesn't matter if your party affiliation is A or Z, the right balance in listening and representing the needs of your own constituents in Washington is job one.

There are not a lot of the emerging majority in Nevada on the golf courses right now in Clark County, they are working and raising their children in tough economic times.

Wanting a cap to Medicaid expansion, one important area Nevada needs federal funding, is wrong. Shame on John Ensign, again.

Si Su Pueda
By theone1

9/27/09 at 11:56 a.m.

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You know, it wouldn't have been so bad if Sen Ensign didn't put himself up as Mr. Family Values. He and the other Repubs who voiced condemnation of Bill Clinton are just frauds.

As far as Ms Titus, you can bet every vote she takes is politically motivated. She won't make the same mistake as Porter made. Porter forgot he was from Nevada, he started thinking he was in Bush's cabinet.
By LarryVegas

9/27/09 at 12:48 p.m.

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I would like to see Representative Titus make a run against Reid in the primary...
By cpo

9/27/09 at 4:02 p.m.

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I would like to see Agassi kick Dina back to the curb. Some how I don't see him bowing to special interests like big Insurance companies like Dina Titus.
By BCDave

9/28/09 at 1:25 a.m.

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Dina Titus-Cap and Tax voted YES. Thank her when $2000 a year comes out of your pocket to pay for this BS.
By NLV-Indep13

9/28/09 at 9:15 a.m.

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"In other words, without the bill, there would be a pay cut for 11 million of the 42 million seniors on Medicare as premiums rise and incomes remain flat." So, were the premiums truly not necessary, are benefits being cut, or is someone else paying the additional premium costs? Seems like the pols are more than eager to placate a special interest, but more than reticent when it's time to pay the bill for their earlier generosity.
By AngryReader

9/28/09 at 12:58 p.m.

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Ensign is political toast. The adultery, the payment of campaign funds to cover it up, that fruity little club on 'C' street.

Ensign should climb down a hole and stay there until he gets the boot in 2012. If he had any integrity he would resign.
By afveteran

9/28/09 at 1:05 p.m.

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Titus will be voted out in 2010.
Ensign will be re-elected in 2012.
By its2hot

9/28/09 at 4:31 p.m.

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AngryReader:

Don't throw stones in a glass house. Democrats are the ones that push for male / male -- female / female relations and look at Clinton, Edwards, and more in the party, they're sicker than Ensign will ever be. Many more exists within the Democratic Party, they just haven't been caught yet.
By capitaldysfunction

9/29/09 at 1:43 a.m.

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The nation's number one retired Republican, former Fed chief Alan Greenspan, had this startling conclusion recently before a House committee: The "intellectual edifice" of his free market ideology had "collapsed". Because of the financial crisis he has concluded that his ideology does not work.
Time now for that towering desert intellectual, United States Senator John Ensign, to step up to the plate and, uh, confess his economic trysts.