Ensign gains finance seat

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) won a coveted seat on the Finance Committee yesterday, reaping the rewards for steering the National Republican Senatorial Committee through a challenging 2008 cycle.

Ensign faced strong competition for the seat left vacant by the late Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), vaulting over Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), a more senior aspirant to Finance, and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).

{mosads}“As I told John when I made this decision, we appreciate his efforts on behalf of the conference,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said. “And it’s important to recognize the efforts of people who do the heavy lifting around here on behalf of the team.”

The Senate GOP conference voted to confirm the selection yesterday, along with assignments for Thomas’s successor, Sen. John Barrasso (R). A Nevadan senator last served on Finance in 2000.

“The Nevada congressional delegation is probably as strong as it has ever been with two seats on Ways and Means in the House and two members of leadership in the Senate,” Ensign said in a statement.