John Eric Ensign (born March 25, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since January 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party and the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Early life, education, and early career
Ensign was born in Roseville, California to Sharon Lee Cipriani and a father whose surname was "Mueller"; his maternal grandfather was of Italian descent.[1] Ensign's family moved to Nevada when he was a child. His mother remarried Michael S. Ensign, a gaming industry executive who subsequently became chairman of the board of directors of Mandalay Bay,[2] and who adopted John.
Ensign went to UNLV, becoming a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, Oregon State University, and Colorado State University, becoming a veterinarian in 1985. He then became a successful businessman, opening a 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.
Political career
House of Representatives
In 1994, Ensign won the Republican nomination for Nevada's 1st congressional district, based in Las Vegas. He was far behind four-term Democratic incumbent, James Bilbray, for most of the campaign. However, Ensign gained considerable momentum after reports surfaced that a Bilbray aide stood to make a huge profit from lands legislation sponsored by Bilbray. [1] Ensign won by 1,400 votes. He was reelected in 1996 by seven points, even as Bill Clinton carried the district by a large margin.
U.S. Senate
In 1998, Ensign ran for the Senate but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Harry Reid, by only 428 votes.[3]
Ensign won a Senate seat on his second try in 2000, defeating Democratic opponent Ed Bernstein by a 55%-40% margin,[4] to succeed the retiring Democratic incumbent, Richard H. Bryan.
Ensign and Reid have developed a fairly good relationship, despite their bruising 1998 contest. They frequently work together on Nevada issues.
Actions in the U.S. Senate
Obstructed legislation that requires fundraising reports
On September 27, 2007, the members of the Senate discovered that Senator Ensign had been using the “secret hold” power (the power of a lawmaker to anonymously block a bill from reaching a floor vote without stating rhyme or reason or identity) to obstruct bills slated to require senators to file fund-raising reports electronically, as House and presidential candidates long have done, rather than obscure their benefactors in paper intensive filings. [5]
Blocked nomination of Vice Admiral Allen
For a short time in March 2006, Ensign blocked the nomination of Vice Admiral Thad Allen to become the next Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Allen was the principal federal official responsible for handling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, replacing FEMA director Michael D. Brown.[6]
Elected Chairman of NRSC
Ensign was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). As chairman of the NRSC, Ensign is to be charged with assembling a staff to win back the U.S. Senate for Republicans in the 2008 elections. Ensign has chosen Mike Slanker and Lindsey Slanker of Nevada based political consulting firm November Inc. to be the Political Director and Finance Director of the NRSC.
Called for resignation of Larry Craig
On August 30th, 2007, Ensign called for the resignation of Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) after allegations of his solicitation in a men's bathroom.
Committee assignments
Opinions and beliefs
Pro-Life
Ensign considers himself "pro-life." He has a "0" rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League.[7]
Ensign authored legislation that makes it illegal for family members to transport teens across state lines to receive an abortion.[8] Several liberal law professors, including Professor John Harrison of University Virginia School of Law and Professor Peter Rubin of Georgetown University Law Center believe this legislation to be unconstitutional because, among other things, the law essentially treats human beings as interstate commerce.[9]
Ensign opposed the Prevention First Act. The Prevention First Act was co-authored by Harry Reid, the senior senator from Nevada, who also considers himself "pro-life."[10]
64% of Ensign's constituents in Nevada identify themselves as "pro-choice."[11]
Animal rights
Along with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Senator Ensign was a lead sponsor of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which makes it a felony to transport animals across state lines for the purpose of fighting. According to a press release from Ensign's office, "Fifty states currently have laws against dogfighting and forty-nine have laws against cockfighting. This bill complements these state laws."[12]
Iraq War
Ensign has been a strong supporter of the U.S. effort in Iraq. In May 2006, speaking before the Nevada Republican Convention, Ensign said "Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy — let me tell you, I say this without reservation — they have hurt our military, they have emboldened the enemy." Ensign also said that the failure of citizens to continue supporting the war was a reflection of an "instant gratification culture" in the U.S.[13] In March at a Lincoln Day Dinner in Pahrump, he had made similar if less-publicized comments, saying "Every time Ted Kennedy gets up and speaks (against the war) he undermines our troops."[14]
Eminent domain
Ensign has become a leading voice against the Kelo v. New London Supreme Court ruling, and has announced plans to introduce a bill that would strongly blunt the effects of the ruling. In Kelo, the Court ruled that local governments could use eminent domain not just for public use but for any project that has involves a public purpose. Specifically, the Court permitted the City of New London, CT to force a homeowner to sell her home for a parking lot for a new development of private, big box stores. The use of governmental condemnation for a private purpose caused a backlash. Ensign is involved in efforts to restrict eminent domain to public uses as the Constitution states.
2006 re-election campaign
-
Ensign faced Democrat Jack Carter, son of former President Jimmy Carter, in the November general election. Both he and Carter won over token opposition in the 15 August 2006 primary. Senator Ensign defeated Carter in the general election held on 7 November 2006 by a 55% to 41% margin. [2]
Personal
Ensign has been spending his workweek in Washington and his weekends in Las Vegas with his wife, Darlene, and their three children, Trevor, Siena, and Michael.citation needed
Ensign is a member of the Pentecostal International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, and is the only Pentecostal in the Senate. He attends a Foursquare church in northwest Las Vegas.[15] In April 2003, the Associated Press reported that Ensign was one of six Congressmen living in a Capitol Hill townhouse subsidized by The Family, a religious organization.[16]
Electoral history
Senate elections in Nevada: Results 1998–2006[17]
| Year |
|
Democrat |
Votes |
Pct |
|
Republican |
Votes |
Pct |
|
3rd Party |
Party |
Votes |
Pct |
|
3rd Party |
Party |
Votes |
Pct |
|
3rd Party |
Votes |
Pct |
|
| 1998 |
|
Harry Reid |
208,621 |
48% |
|
John Ensign |
208,220 |
48% |
|
Michael Cloud |
Libertarian |
8,129 |
2% |
|
Michael E. Williams |
Natural Law |
2,781 |
1% |
|
None of these * |
8,113 |
2% |
|
| 2000 |
|
Ed Bernstein |
238,260 |
40% |
|
John Ensign |
330,687 |
55% |
|
Kathryn Rusco |
Green |
10,286 |
2% |
|
J. J. Johnson |
Libertarian |
5,395 |
1% |
|
None of these * |
11,503 |
2% |
* |
| 2006 |
|
Jack Carter |
238,796 |
41% |
|
John Ensign |
322,501 |
55% |
|
David K. Schumann |
Independent American |
7,774 |
1% |
|
Brendan Trainor |
Libertarian |
5,269 |
1% |
|
None of these * |
8,232 |
1% |
|
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2000, Independent American candidate Ernie Berghof received 2,540 votes; Citizens First candidate Bill Grutzmacher received 1,579 votes; No Vote Cast received 457 votes; and Over Vote received 69 votes.
** Nevada law since 1975 allows dissatisfied voters to vote for "None of These Candidates."
Footnotes
- ^ 1
- ^ "Mandalay Details Spending, Share Buyback Program", Gambling Magazine, 2001
- ^ Nevada Secretary of State — 1998 US Senate Recount Results
- ^ Nevada Secretary of State — 2000 General Election Results
- ^ "Let the Sun Shine In", NY Times, Sept. 27. 2007.
- ^ "Sen. Ensign Works to Block Coast Guard Nominee", Associated Press, March 20, 2006
- ^ Search Results
- ^ Abortion laws dealing with interstate travel of minors
- ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- ^ Abortion: Nevada Political Leaders' views
- ^ SurveyUSA News Poll #6577
- ^ United States Senator John Ensign
- ^ Dennis Myers, "Ensign comes alive: Nevada’s other senator breaks into the headlines", Reno News and Review, May 25, 2006
- ^ Gina B. Good, "Grand Old Party kicks off election", Pahrump Valley Times, March 17, 2006
- ^ http://www.reviewjournal.com/cgi-bin/printable.cgi?/lvrj_home/2000/Mar-19-Sun-2000/news/13169727
- ^ Lara Jakes Jordan, "Fellowship finances townhouse where 6 congressmen live", Associated Press, 20 April 2003
- ^ a b "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
External links
- Mike Slanker, Ensign's NSRC political director
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Current members of the United States Senate |
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| |
AL: Shelby (R), Sessions (R)
AK: Stevens (R), Murkowski (R)
AZ: McCain (R), Kyl (R)
AR: Lincoln (D), Pryor (D)
CA: Feinstein (D), Boxer (D)
CO: Allard (R), Salazar (D)
CT: Dodd (D), Lieberman (I)
DE: Biden (D), Carper (D)
FL: Nelson (D), Martinez (R)
GA: Chambliss (R), Isakson (R)
HI: Inouye (D), Akaka (D)
ID: Craig (R), Crapo (R)
IL: Durbin (D), Obama (D)
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IN: Lugar (R), Bayh (D)
IA: Grassley (R), Harkin (D)
KS: Brownback (R), Roberts (R)
KY: McConnell (R), Bunning (R)
LA: Landrieu (D), Vitter (R)
ME: Snowe (R), Collins (R)
MD: Mikulski (D), Cardin (D)
MA: Kennedy (D), Kerry (D)
MI: Levin (D), Stabenow (D)
MN: Coleman (R), Klobuchar (D)
MS: Cochran (R), Wicker (R)
MO: Bond (R), McCaskill (D)
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MT: Baucus (D), Tester (D)
NE: Hagel (R), Nelson (D)
NV: Reid (D), Ensign (R)
NH: Gregg (R), Sununu (R)
NJ: Lautenberg (D), Menendez (D)
NM: Domenici (R), Bingaman (D)
NY: Schumer (D), Clinton (D)
NC: Dole (R), Burr (R)
ND: Conrad (D), Dorgan (D)
OH: Voinovich (R), Brown (D)
OK: Inhofe (R), Coburn (R)
OR: Wyden (D), Smith (R)
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PA: Specter (R), Casey (D)
RI: Reed (D), Whitehouse (D)
SC: Graham (R), DeMint (R)
SD: Johnson (D), Thune (R)
TN: Alexander (R), Corker (R)
TX: Hutchison (R), Cornyn (R)
UT: Hatch (R), Bennett (R)
VT: Leahy (D), Sanders (I)
VA: Warner (R), Webb (D)
WA: Murray (D), Cantwell (D)
WV: Byrd (D), Rockefeller (D)
WI: Kohl (D), Feingold (D)
WY: Enzi (R), Barrasso (R)
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