John Ensign

John Eric Ensign (born March 25, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Nevada. He is a member of the Republican Party, and is running for re-election in 2006.

Early life, education, and early career

Ensign was born in Roseville, California. His 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, and who adopted John.

Ensign went to UNLV, Oregon State University, and the University of Colorado, 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

Ensign was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the Republican landslide 1994 Congressional election. He was reelected in 1996.

Election to the U.S. Senate

In 1998, Ensign ran for the Senate but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Harry Reid, by 428 votes.

Ensign won a Senate seat on his second try in 2000, defeating Democratic opponent Ed Bernstein by a 55%-40% margin, to succeed the retiring Democratic incumbent, Richard H. Bryan.

Political positions and actions

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.

Ensign has been praised by many organizations for his support for fiscal conservatism. In 2003, the American Conservative Union named Ensign along with Senators Chuck Hagel (NE) and Don Nickles (OK) as the most conservative Senator in 2003. Ensign failed to achieve the award in 2004, receiving a 92% score. In 2004 he was named, along with Senator Jon Kyl (AZ), the most taxpayer-friendly senator by the National Taxpayers Union. Ensign also received the highest rating for a senator by the Citizens Against Government Waste, while being named a "Taxpayer's Hero" for his lifetime efforts against government waste. Both Citizens for a Sound Economy, whose chairman is former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, and the National Tax Limitation Committee gave Senator Ensign their highest ratings.

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 Mike Brown..

Ensign is 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. 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."

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
  • Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support (Chairman)
• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Communications
  • Subcommittee on Competition, Foreign Commerce, and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
  • Subcommittee on Aging
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families
  • Subcommittee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

2006 re-election campaign

Ensign is running for re-election in 2006. A May 2006 poll showed he had a 49% approval rating, somewhat low for an incumbent going into an election year.

Ensign will face Democrat Jack Carter, son of former President Jimmy Carter, in the November general election. Both he and Carter won over token opposition in the August 15, 2006 primary.

The most recent Wall Street Journal poll, taken on September 11, 2006, showed Ensign leading Carter 52%-40%, with a margin of error of 4%. "Battleground State Polls", Wall Street Journal Online, accessed September 22, 2006</ref>

Personal

Ensign spends his workweek in Washington and his weekends in Las Vegas with his wife, Darlene, and their three children—Trevor, Siena, and Michael. He attends a Foursquare church in northwest Las Vegas.

In April 2003, the Associated Press reported that Ensign was one of six Congressman living in a Capitol Hill townhouse subsidized by The Family, a secretive religious organization.

On the morning of January 30 2006, Ensign and an aide were involved in a traffic accident in Las Vegas after their car was struck by an oncoming car on their way to the airport. Both suffered minor injuries.

External links

• Official website
• Campaign website
• Voting record maintained by the Washington Post