Ensign votes against bill even though it included his amendment to help Nevada

By Stephanie Tavares

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | 6:50 p.m.

Sen. John Ensign today voted against a bill that included a key amendment to return geothermal energy royalties and lease revenue to the rural counties where the geothermal plants are located.

Ensign twice voted to block the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act, which passed without his support. The main bill extended unemployment benefits to out-of-work Americans.

But yesterday, Ensign and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked the Senate to include an amendment they co-sponsored that is to return hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue from geothermal energy leases and royalties and ensure they continue to get the funds through the end of the federal fiscal year next fall.

The money, which was expected to amount to nearly $20 million this year — was commandeered by the federal government in a September appropriations bill for the Department of Interior.

Ensign has all week spoken in favor of the amendment, saying that "ensuring that our state receives its share of geothermal royalties is of the utmost importance."

Even after voting against the bill, Ensign celebrated its passage on his Twitter acount about the benefits the amendment would bring, writing:

"Geothermal royalties are returning to their rightful recipients: the taxpayers of Nevada."

Members of the state Democratic party called foul, saying Ensign is a hypocrite and accusing him of playing politics.

“Sen. Ensign clearly knows how important this funding is to rural counties. After all, he cosponsored the amendment and was quick to take credit for the good news,” said Phoebe Sweet, communications director for the Nevada State Democratic Party. “His constituents deserve better than this kind of callous partisanship from a man who supposedly represents their interests.