John Ensign

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This is a profile of a former U.S. senator. (See all the Nevada portal for all incumbents, candidates and blogs.)
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John Eric Ensign, a Republican, represented the state of Nevada in the Senate from 2000 to 2011, when he was replaced by the appointment of Dean Heller.

Contents

Record and controversies

Congressional scorecards

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Organization 2007 Scorecard
Score - Agree ratio 		2008 Scorecard
Score - Agree ratio
American Civil Liberties Union not avail. not avail.
American Conservative Union 91 - 21/25 not avail.
AFSCME 0 - 0/7 not avail.
Americans for Democratic Action 0 - 0/20 0 - 0/20
Club for Growth not avail. not avail.
Drum Major Institute not avail. not avail.
Family Research Council 100 - 9/9 100 - 9/9
Information Technology Industry Council 100 - 5/5 100 - 5/5
League of Conservation Voters not avail. 18 - 2/11
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People not avail. not avail.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 56 - 5/11 not avail.


Affair with campaign staffer

On June 16, 2009, Sen. Ensign admitted to an affair with a former campaign staffer, Cynthia Hampton, who was also the wife of Ensign's administrative assistant in his Washington, DC office, Douglas Hampton. Ensign acknowledged that the affair occurred between December 2007 and August 2008.[1]

Payments to the Hamptons

Questions have arisen around payments from Ensign's Member Representational Allowance (MRA) to Douglas Hampton during his final months working in Ensign's office. According to the Politico, Hampton received $101,000 for four months of work in 2008 compared to $144,000 for the entire year of 2007.[2] This could show that he was receiving excessive pay during the time that Ensign was engaged in an affair with his wife. However, staff salaries often contain additional payments including benefits, bonuses, and paid out sick leave.[3]

Ensign has acknowledged that his parents paid the Hamptons a one-time amount of $96,000 after leaving work respective work at Ensign's congressional office and campaign office. Ensign stated, through his lawyer, that his parents gave the money to the Hamptons "out of concern of the well-being of the longtime family friends during a difficult time." Ensign would have had to report the monetary gift to the Hamptons on his personal financial disclosures were he to have given the monetary gift himself.[4]

Son paid by NRSC

While Ensign was the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the son of Douglas and Cynthia Hampton was hired to do "research policy consulting" and paid $5,400.[5]

Collusion to break ethics rules

Recent allegations detailed in a New York Times article state that Ensign aided Doug Hampton in obtaining work as a lobbyist, helped Hampton get clients and then colluded with Hampton to break congressional ethics laws banning former staffers from lobbying their former office for one year.[6]

In February 2008, Ensign contacted Michael Slanker, formerly Ensign's top fundraiser, about restarting Slanker's lobbying firm November, Inc. and hiring Doug Hampton as it's sole lobbyist. At the time, Slanker was unaware of the affair between Ensign and Cynthia Hampton. Ensign told Slanker that the Hamptons were leaving his employ because Cynthia Hampton was sick.[7]

In May 2008, Doug Hampton and November, Inc. signed their first client, NV Energy, with Ensign's help. Soon, Nevember, Inc. signs another client, Allegiant Air. Both clients are campaign contributors to Sen. Ensign.[8]

During this time, Doug Hampton began contacting Ensign's office, breaking congressional ethics laws, with the approval of Ensign. Numerous contacts were made by Hampton to Ensign's office on a variety of issues including the reduction of a fine levied by the Department of Transportation for Allegiant Air and the expediting of an environmental review for one of NV Energy's coal-burning plants. Ensign's office aids Hampton in both of these requests.[9]

Statements on Clinton Impeachment

During the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, Ensign repeatedly called for Clinton to resign for engaging in sexual acts with a woman who was not his wife. Ensign called Clinton's behavior "an embarrassing moment for the country" and later called for the President to resign, "I came to that conclusion recently, and frankly it's because of what he put his whole Cabinet through and what he has put the country through ... He has no credibility left."[10]

Iraq War

Ensign voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

For more information see the chart of U.S. Senate votes on the Iraq War.

Iraq timetable

In 2007, Ensign vowed to vote against a Democratic resolution to pull troops out of Iraq because he believed that it would "restrict our troops' abilities in combat to only 'limited purposes.'" [1]

Main article: Congressional actions on the Iraq War

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Organizations that have supported Ensign

As a conservative member of the Senate, Ensign has had the support of the National Right to Life Committee, American Shareholders Association, Freedom Works, Americans for Tax Reform, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, the John Birch Society, Concerned Women for America, Republican Liberty Caucus, Christian Coalition, National School Boards' Association, American Family Association, Citizens Against Government Waste, National Rifle Association, and American Security Council. [2]

Organizations that have opposed Ensign

Many groups have been opposed to Ensign. These include Planned Parenthood, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP, Arab American Institute, National Education Association, Children's Defense Fund, Citizens for Global Solutions, Peace Action, National Organization for Women, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Global AIDS Alliance, and Alliance for Retired Americans. [3]

General Casey confirmation

Ensign, as a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, as well as Republican Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), voted against the confirmation of General George Casey as the chief of staff of the Army in early 2007. The overall confirmation vote was 14-3. [4]

Law Enforcement Assistance Force Amendment

Sen. Ensign's amendment, proposing a new system that would document retired law enforcement volunteering to be called on in case of a national disaster, passed in the Senate. The amendment was added to the 9/11 commission bill. [5]

Main article: Congressional efforts to implement recommendations of the 9/11 commission

U.S. attorney firing controversy

Ensign, who was angered by the firing of U.S. Attorney Dan Bogden (whom he nominated for the post), released a statement after Attorney General Alberto Gonzales acknowledged mistakes in the firing of Bogden and seven other attorneys. He thanked him for "coming forward today to take responsibility for the mistakes that were made, to find out what went wrong and to address these problems immediately." Ensign believed that two things needed to be done to fix the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada. First, despite being one of the fastest growing states in the U.S., Nevada's resources were decreasing, when he felt they should be increasing. Second, Ensign believed Nevada needed "specific benchmarks to review U.S. attorneys."[11]

Main article: Bush administration U.S. attorney firings controversy

Senate Finance Committee placement

On July 10, 2007, the Senate GOP Conference gave Ensign a seat on the Senate Committee on Finance which was vacated when Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas passed away earlier that year.

Ensign spokesman Tory Mazzola commented, “Sen. Ensign is excited about this assignment... He’s worked hard as a member of the leadership and these issues are not new to him. These are issues he worked on as a member of the Ways and Means Committee in the House and these are issues that have long been priorities.”[12]

Bio

Ensign was born March 25, 1958 in Roseville, California, but he and his family moved to Nevada when he was a child. He attended UNLV and earned a Bachelor's degree from Oregon State University. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1985. He then became a successful businessman, opening a 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.[6]

Congressional career

He was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 1994. He was reelected in 1996 but declined to run again in 1998. Instead he ran for the Senate but was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Harry Reid. He gained a Senate seat after his second try in 2000, defeating Democratic opponent Ed Bernstein, to succeed the retiring Democratic incumbent, Richard H. Bryan.

Senate Career

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.

Senator 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. His accolades for 2004 include being 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 hailed as 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.

In 2006, he was named to head the Republican Senate Campaign Committee for the 2007-2008 election cycle. [7]

2006 elections

In 2006, the Democrats nominated John William Carter to face Ensign in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [8] Ensign retained his seat.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. For specific controversies, see this article's record and controversies section.

Top Contributors to during the 2008 Election Cycle
DonorAmount (US Dollars)
Guardian Life Insurance$ 37,176
Peppermill Casinos$ 24,000
Monness, Crespi et al$ 19,200
Novogradac & Co$ 19,200
SAC Capital Advisors$ 19,200
AG Spanos Companies$ 13,000
AT&T Inc$ 13,000
Flag Luxury Properties$ 11,500
MGM Resorts International$ 10,300
Station Casinos$ 9,800
Source: The Center for Responsive Politics' www.OpenSecrets.org site.
Note: Contributions are not from the organizations themselves, but are rather from
the organization's PAC, employees or owners. Totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.
Links to more campaign contribution information for John Ensign
from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile: 2008 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation: 2008 election cycle Career totals
Top contributors by industry: 2008 election cycle Career totals


Committees and Affiliations

Committees

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

More Background Data

Wikipedia also has an article on John Ensign. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC office
  • 2161 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
    Ph: 202-225-2464 Fax: 202-225-5513
    Webform email
District offices
  • 600 East Williams Street, Suite 304 Carson City, NV 89701
    Ph: 775-885-9111 Fax: (none entered)
  • Lloyd George Federal Building 333 Las Vegas Boulevard Suite 8203 Las Vegas, NV 89101
    Ph: 702-388-6605 Fax: (none entered)
  • Bruce Thompson Federal Building 400 South Virginia Street, Suite 738 Reno, NV 89501
    Ph: 775-686-5770 Fax: (none entered)
On the Web
Campaign office
  • No campaign website entered.
  • No campaign webform email entered.
  • No campaign office information entered.

Twitter

John Ensign posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/johnensign/

Latest posts:

See all the members of Congress who Twitter

Articles and Resources

References

  1. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/16/AR2009061602746.html Sen. Ensign Acknowledges an Extramarital Affair
  2. ↑ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23813.html Admission clouds Nevada Sen. John Ensign's future
  3. ↑ http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2009/06/17/is-ensigns-sex-scandal-more-than-a-sex-scandal/ Is Ensign’s Sex Scandal More Than a Sex Scandal?
  4. ↑ Dan Eggen and Chris Cillizza, Ensign's Parents Made Payments to Mistress, Her Family, Washington Post, July 10, 2009
  5. ↑ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23844.html#ixzz0IiS31GuF&C NRSC paid son of woman in Ensign affair
  6. ↑ Erich Lichtblau and Eric Lipton, Senator’s Aid After Affair Raises Flags Over Ethics, New York Times, October 1, 2009.
  7. ↑ Ibid
  8. ↑ Ibid
  9. ↑ Ibid
  10. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/ensign-whacked-clinton-fo_n_216508.html Ensign Whacked Clinton For His Infidelities, Called Them "Embarrassing" For Country
  11. ↑ "Ensign Urges DOJ to Restore Dan Bogden's Reputation," Office of Senator Ensign. March 13, 2007.
  12. ↑ Erin P. Billings. "Ensign Gets Finance Committee Seat," Roll Call. June 10, 2007.

Articles

  • Ted Glanzer, [www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2005/jul/1167581.htm "U.S. Sen. John Ensign Releases Telecom Act Rewrite,"] TMCNet, July 27, 2005.
  • Roxana Tiron, "Three GOP sens. vote against confirmation," The Hill, February 7, 2007.

Resources

Local blogs and discussion sites


Semantic data (Edit data)

Retrieved from "http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/John_Ensign"
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