Analysis ranks Wyo delegation near middle of pack
JIM ABRAMS Associated Press writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 12:00 am
WASHINGTON - The best-known members of Congress aren't necessarily the most powerful.
The Democrats' last presidential candidate, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, for example, is ranked 61st in terms of clout among the Senate's 100 members, according to a new analysis.
A much junior colleague and likely competitor for the party's White House nomination in 2008, New York Sen. and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, ranks 41st.
Both are well behind lesser known Republican Reps. Jerry Lewis of California and Don Young of Alaska, respectively chairmen of the House Appropriations and Transportation committees and listed as the third and fourth most powerful House members.
Among Wyoming's congressional delegation, all Republicans, Sen. Craig Thomas ranked 53rd and Sen. Mike Enzi 65th in the Senate, while Rep. Barbara Cubin was ranked 160th out of 438 members in the House. Thomas ranked well in leadership position (38th) but not so well in political influence (67th); Enzi ranked well on legislative activity (25th) but low in leadership position (71). Cubin scored high in legislative activity (53rd) but low in political influence (308th).
The survey, which ranks every member of Congress based on very Washington wonk criteria - committee and leadership positions, political influence and legislative activity - puts Republican John McCain of Arizona as the third most powerful senator.
Ahead of him are Majority Leader Bill Frist, who's vying with McCain for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, followed by Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The only Democrat to make the top 10 Senate list was Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who placed fifth.
The rankings were put together by Knowlegis, a company that provides services and software for government relations professionals. Limited to activities in 2005, the rankings are out of date in some cases.