Now that the Senate has announced the primary committee seatings for the 111th Congress, it is possible to rank the relative power of the 100 Senate delegations. In judging the power, I’ve looked at two main factors. First, how much power does the delegation have over policy and, second, how much power do they have over the purse strings. In addition, I’ve factored in leadership positions, seniority, and whether or not the delegation is currently fully staffed. Here is what I’ve come up with.
1. Massachusetts
Sen. Edward Kennedy- chair of Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions
Sen. John Kerry- chair of Foreign Relations
Analysis- No delegation has more power than Massachusetts. Sen. Kennedy will be working on a form of universal health care, reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind program, and the Employee Free Choice Act, among other things. John Kerry will be overseeing the new focus on diplomacy and working on the whole spectrum of foreign policy challenges, including global warming.
2. California
Sen. Diane Feinstein- chair of Intelligence, seat on Appropriations, seat on Rules
Sen. Barbara Boxer- chair of Environment & Public Works, Chief Deputy Whip, seat on Foreign Relations
Analysis: Sen. Feinstein recently stepped down as the Chair on the Rules Committee to take over the Intelligence Committee. She still sits on Rules, however, and has medium seniority on Appropriations. Sen. Boxer will have a major role in Obama’s green economy initiative and will work as part of the leadership team.
3. Nevada
Majority Leader Harry Reid- seat on Rules
Sen. John Ensign- Republican Policy Committee Chair
Analysis- Nevada rates third by simple virtue of Harry Reid being the Majority Leader of the Senate. No one wields more power in the Upper Chamber. Sen. Ensign most recently headed the Republican National Senate Committee and serves as chair of the GOP’s policy committee. They make a powerful duo.
4. Hawaii
Sen. Daniel Inouye- chair of Appropriations
Sen. Daniel Akaka- chair of Veteran’s Affairs
Any state that sports two committee chairs is going to have a powerful delegation, but no chair has more power than the chair of Appropriations. Sen. Inouye controls the purse strings of Congress. Akaka and Inouye also enjoy seniority on several other important committees. If Lieberman had been stripped of his chair of Homeland Security, it would have gone to Akaka.
5. Montana
Sen. Max Baucus- chair of Finance
Sen. Jon Tester- seat on Appropriations
Analysis: After Harry Reid and Daniel Inouye, no one has more power than Sen. Max Baucus. The Finance Committee will share responsibility with Teddy Kennedy’s HELP Committee in shaping Obama’s health care plan. Baucus will also oversee trade policy, among other things. Jon Tester just won a seat on the Appropriation Committee.
6. Kentucky
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell- seat on Appropriations
Sen. Jim Bunning-
Analysis- Kentucky ranks high solely by virtue of Mitch McConnell being the most powerful Republicans in the Senate. Sen. Bunning adds nothing to the delegation and is probably the most vulnerable Republican up for reelection in 2010.
7. Connecticut
Sen. Chris Dodd- chair of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Sen. Joe Lieberman- chair of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Analysis- Not only do both of Connecticut’s senators chair important committees, but they both have seniority on other important committees. Sen. Dodd will oversee the TARP program, and an overhaul of banking regulation. Sen. Lieberman will have influence on oversight, as well as on the Armed Services committee.
8. West Virginia
Sen. Robert Byrd- President Pro Tempore
Sen. Jay Rockefeller- chair of Commerce, Science and Transportation
Analysis- Due to Sen. Byrd’s age-related infirmities, he recently had to give up the chair of Appropriations. If not for that, West Virginia would be ranked first on this list. Byrd is still the most senior member of Congress and retains much influence. Sen. Rockefeller has taken over the gavel of the Commerce Committee and will have a lot of influence over a wide area of policy.
9. North Dakota
Sen. Kent Conrad- chair of Budget
Sen. Byron Dorgan- chair of Indian Affairs, Democratic Policy Committee Chair
Sen. Conrad enjoys much influence in his role overseeing the federal budget. Sen. Dorgan wields his influence as the Policy Committee chair.
10. Michigan
Sen. Carl Levin- chair of Armed Services
Sen. Debbie Stabenow- Democratic Steering/Outreach Chair
Analysis- Sen. Levin’s chairmanship of Armed Services makes him one of the most powerful members of the Senate. Sen. Stabenow is still working her way up the seniority charts and doesn’t have much power in committee. But she does enjoy a low-level position in the leadership.
11. New Mexico
Sen. Jeff Bingaman- chair of Energy and Natural Resources, Democratic Committee Outreach Chair
Sen. Tom Udall
Analysis- The New Mexico delegation benefits by virtue of having two Democrats, but their main source of power comes from Sen. Bingaman’s control of energy policy, his regulatory power over our national resources, and his low-level position in the leadership.
12. New Jersey
Sen. Frank Lautenberg- seat on Appropriations
Sen. Robert Menendez- chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, seat on Foreign Relations
Analysis- Sen. Menendez’s power just got a major boost when he was tapped to replace Chuck Schumer as the head of the DSCC. Sen. Lautenberg enjoys power on the Appropriations Committee.
13. Iowa
Sen. Chuck Grassley- ranking member on Finance
Sen. Tom Harkin- chair of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Analysis- Both Harkin and Grassley enjoy a lot of seniority. Between them, they have a lot of control over Agricultural policy, and Grassley work on the Finance Committee makes him very influential.
14. Indiana
Sen. Richard Lugar- ranking member on Foreign Relations
Sen. Evan Bayh- seat on Armed Services, Intelligence
Analysis- Sen. Lugar is the GOP’s most influential and respected member on foreign affairs. Sen. Bayh serves on six different committees and has influence over national security issues.
15. Arizona
Sen. John McCain- ranking member on Armed Services
Sen. Jon Kyl- Minority Whip
Analysis- While Arizona does not enjoy a Democrat in their delegation, they benefit from McCain’s high profile and service on Armed Services, and from Kyl’s position as the second ranking Republican in the Senate.
16. Vermont
Sen. Patrick Leahy- chair of the Judiciary Committee, seat on Appropriations
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Analysis- Vermont benefits from having two members of the Democratic caucus. However, almost all their power emanates from Leahy’s seniority and his Judiciary gavel. Leahy oversees all federal judicial appointments.
17. Maine
Sen. Olympia Snowe- ranking member on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Sen. Susan Collins- ranking member on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Analysis- Maine benefits from having two Ranking Members. It also benefits from Collins and Snowe’s relative moderation. Democrats will constantly seek to gain their approval for cloture votes, obviously offering all kinds of goodies in return.
18. Texas
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison- ranking member on Commerce, Science and Transportation, seat on Appropriations
Sen. John Cornyn- chair of the Republican National Senatorial Committee, seat on Armed Services
Analysis- the power of the Texas delegation may be fleeting. Hutchison is thinking of running for governor in 2010 and Cornyn’s sole influence comes from his recent elevation to head of the NRSC. But at the moment they wield a lot of influence.
19. Mississippi
Sen. Thad Cochran- ranking member on Appropriations
Sen. Roger Wicker- seat on Armed Services
Analysis- Mississippi used to have the country’s most powerful delegation, but then Trent Lott retired and Cochran got kicked to the minority. Nevertheless, even in the minority, Cochran has more power than all but a handful of senators.
20. Alabama
Sen. Richard Shelby- ranking member on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Sen. Jeff Sessions- seat on Armed Services
Analysis- Alabama’s power comes from the centrality of the housing and banking crisis to this Congress’s agenda. Sen. Shelby has already shown himself as someone to be reckoned with.
21. Wisconsin
Sen. Herb Kohl- chair of Special Committee on Aging, seat on Appropriations
Sen. Russ Feingold- seat on Foreign Relations, seat on Judiciary, seat on Intelligence
Analysis- Kohl and Feingold’s overall power is limited, but they do have a lot of influence. Feingold leads through hard work and making principled stands. Kohl is more of an appropriator.
22. Utah
Sen. Robert Bennett- ranking member on Rules & Administration
Sen. Orrin Hatch- seat on Intelligence, Judiciary, Finance
Analysis- Hatch and Bennett enjoy a lot of seniority and influence. They don’t have much absolute power at the moment, but they are among the stronger Republican delegations.
23. Illinois
Majority Whip Dick Durbin- seat on Appropriations, Rules, Judiciary
Sen. Roland Burris-
Analysis- Sen. Durbin is the second ranking member of the Upper Chamber. However, no senator has less power than Roland Burris. As a result, the Illinois delegation only ranks slightly about the medium.
24. Washington
Sen. Patty Murray- Democratic Conference Secretary, seat on Appropriations, seat on Rules & Administration
Sen. Maria Cantwell- seat on Finance
Analysis- Sen. Murray is moving up the leadership and seniority charts and has a seat on Appropriations. Sen. Cantwell works on a variety of important committees, but doesn’t have much power.
25. Oregon
Sen. Ron Wyden- seat on Finance, seat on Intelligence
Sen. Jeff Merkley-
Analysis- Oregon is fortunate to have two Democrats in their delegation. However, Merkley is a freshman and Wyden doesn’t have a major gavel.
26. Arkansas
Sen. Blanche Lincoln- Democratic Rural Outreach Chair, seat on Finance
Sen. Mark Pryor- seat on Appropriations, seat on Armed Services
Analysis- Arkansas received a boost when Sen. Pryor won a seat on Appropriations. Sen. Lincoln is a low-ranking member of the Leadership. Neither senator has much seniority.
27. New Hampshire
Sen. Judd Gregg- ranking member on Budget, seat on Appropriations
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen- seat on Foreign Relations
Analysis- Sen. Gregg has a lot of power of budget issues and sits on Appropriations. Sen. Shaheen is a freshman, but she won a plum assignment on Foreign Relations.
28. Pennsylvania
Sen. Arlen Specter- ranking member on Judiciary, seat on Appropriations
Sen. Bob Casey Jr.- seat on Foreign Relations
Analysis- The Pennsylvania delegation benefits from Specter’s seniority. Specter’s lead role on Judiciary gives him a lot of institutional power.
29. Tennessee
Sen. Lamar Alexander- Republican Conference Chair, seat on Appropriations, seat on Rules & Administration
Sen. Bob Corker- seat on Foreign Relations, seat on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs.
Analysis: Lamar Alexander is rising rapidly in the Republican leadership. Sen. Corker is emerging as a star legislator in the Republican caucus. Tennessee’s power is limited by a lack of absolute power, but this delegation is moving up quickly.
30. Georgia
Sen. Saxby Chambliss- ranking member on Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition
Sen. Johnny Isakson- seat on Foreign Relations
Analysis- The Georgia delegation’s main source of power is over Agricultural policy. Isakson serves on a half-dozen committees, but hasn’t accumulated much seniority.
31. Virginia
Sen. Jim Webb- seat on Armed Services, seat on Foreign Relations
Sen. Mark Warner-
Analysis- This is young duo with no seniority. But they are both Democrats and the both have a ton of promise. Virginia’s proximity to DC doesn’t hurt their influence, either.
32. Alaska
Sen. Lisa Murkowski- ranking member on Energy & Natural Resources, seat on Foreign Relations
Sen. Mark Begich- seat on Armed Services
Analysis: Alaska has lost a lot of clout in recent years, but Sen. Murkowski is taking over as the top Republican on Energy & Natural Resources. Sen. Begich landed a spot the Commerce and Armed Services committees.
33. Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed- seat on Armed Services, seat on Appropriations
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse- seat on Judiciary, seat on Intelligence
Analysis: Despite having two Democratic senators, Rhode Island doesn’t enjoy a tremendous amount of influence. Sen. Reed plays an important role on the Banking and Armed Services committees, and Whitehouse has good assignments but no seniority.
34. Maryland
Sen. Barbara Mikulski- seat on Appropriations, seat on Intelligence
Sen. Ben Cardin- seat on Foreign Relations, seat on Judiciary
Analysis: Despite having two Democrats, the Maryland delegation actually wields very little power. Sen. Mikulski has some influence on Kennedy’s HELP committee and serves on Appropriations, but overall she is weak considering her length of service. Sen. Cardin has good committee assignments, but little seniority.
35. New York
Sen. Chuck Schumer- chair of Rules & Administration, Democratic Conference Vice Chair
VACANT-
Analysis: Sen. Schumer is third in the Democratic leadership and has consolidated immense power through his two incredibly successful terms as head of the DSCC. However, until Gov. Patterson appoints Hillary Clinton’s replacement, this delegation is not at full strength.
36. Missouri
Sen. Kit Bond- vice chair on Intelligence, seat on Appropriations
Sen. Claire McCaskill- seat on Armed Services
Analysis: Sen. Bond has announced that he is retiring. He does still enjoy some institutional power, but it’s waning. McCaskill has good relations with the president, but little seniority.
37. Oklahoma
Sen. Jim Inhofe- ranking member on Environment & Public Works, seat on Armed Services
Sen. Tom Coburn-
Analysis: Inhofe is a global warming denier in an inconvenient post as head of the GOP’s environmental policy. He’s generally considered as nuts even by his colleagues. Tom Coburn is friends with Barack Obama but has little else going for him. He probably will not seek reelection.
38. Wyoming
Sen. Mike Enzi- ranking member on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Sen. John Barrasso- seat on Foreign Relations
Analysis- Sen. Enzi has an excellent working relationship with Teddy Kennedy and should have some influence over policy. Sen. Barrasso has no seniority or influence.
39. Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson- seat on Armed Services, seat on Intelligence, seat on Foreign Relations
Sen. Mel Martinez- seat on Armed Services
Analysis: this delegation has some power on the Armed Services committee, but Mel Martinez is retiring and Bill Nelson has no major gavel.
40. Ohio
Sen. George Voinovich-
Sen. Sherrod Brown-
Analysis:
41. Kansas
Sen. Pat Roberts- seat on Finance
Sen. Sam Brownback- seat on Appropriations
Analysis: Brownback has announced his retirement and Roberts is no longer serving as ranking member on any committees. This is a remarkably weak delegation.
