John Ensign
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| John Ensign | |
| | |
| 2001 – Present | |
| Political party: | Republican |
|---|---|
| Preceded by: | Richard H. Bryan |
| Succeeded by: | Incumbent (2013) |
| Born: | March 25, 1958 Roseville, California |
| Spouse: | Darlene Ensign |
| Religion: | International Church of the Foursquare Gospel |
John Eric Ensign (born March 25, 1958) is the junior United States Senator from Nevada. He is a member of the Republican Party, and was recently re-elected in 2006 midterm elections.
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[edit] 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,<ref>"Mandalay Details Spending, Share Buyback Program", Gambling Magazine, 2001</ref> and who adopted John.
Ensign went to UNLV, Oregon State University, and the Colorado State University, becoming a veterinarian in 1985. He then became a successful businessman, opening a 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas.
[edit] Political career
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.<ref>Nevada Secretary of State - 1998 US Senate Recount Results</ref>
Ensign won a Senate seat on his second try in 2000, defeating Democratic opponent Ed Bernstein by a 55%-40% margin,<ref>Nevada Secretary of State - 2000 General Election Results</ref> to succeed the retiring Democratic incumbent, Richard H. Bryan.
[edit] 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.<ref>"Sen. Ensign Works to Block Coast Guard Nominee", Associated Press, March 20, 2006</ref>.
In 2005, Ensign introduced a Senate version of a bill that would repeal the Wright Amendment, a law strongly opposed by Southwest Airlines. The bill passed both houses and became law in 2006.
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.<ref>Dennis Myers, "Ensign comes alive: Nevada’s other senator breaks into the headlines", Reno News and Review, May 25, 2006</ref> 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."<ref>Gina B. Good, "Grand Old Party kicks off election", Pahrump Valley Times, March 17, 2006</ref>
[edit] Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs
[edit] 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 August 15, 2006 primary. Senator Ensign beat Carter on November 7th, 2006 by a 55% to 41% margin.
[edit] 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 Congressmen living in a Capitol Hill townhouse subsidized by The Family, a secretive religious organization.<ref>Lara Jakes Jordan, "Fellowship finances townhouse where 6 congressmen live", Associated Press, April 20, 2003</ref>
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.<ref>(audio), John Ensign discussing his January 2006 traffic accident, American Public Radio </ref>
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: James Bilbray | United States Representative for the 1st Congressional District of Nevada 1995 – 1999 | Succeeded by: Shelley Berkley |
| Preceded by: Richard Bryan | United States Senator (Class 1) from Nevada 2001 – present Served alongside: Harry Reid | Incumbent |
| Nevada's current delegation to the United States Congress |
|---|
| Senators: Harry Reid (D), John Ensign (R)
Representative(s): Shelley Berkley (D), Jim Gibbons (R), Jon Porter (R) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands |
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Categories: 1958 births | Casino magnates | Foursquare Gospel Members | Italian-American politicians | Living people | Members of the United States House of Representatives from Nevada | Oregon State University alumni | People from Nevada | People from Sacramento, California | Promise Keepers | Sigma Chi brothers | United States Senators from Nevada | Veterinarians
