Tuesday, March 4, 2008

McConnell: 7th Most Powerful Senator

The Courier-Journal is reporting that Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has been ranked the 7th most powerful member of the Senate.

Regardless of one's party affiliation, this is very, very good news for Kentucky. And it should only solidify McConnell's already imposing lead in his bid for reelection; Kentuckians would be crazy to forgo the amount of seniority with which McConnell represents our commonwealth.

Note the breakdown of different aspects of Senate power:

McConnell is ranked third most powerful in the Senate based on his position, 17th most powerful based on influence, 31st most powerful based on legislation, and 61st based on earmarks.

This last number -- McConnnell ranks 61st in earmarks -- must be a great relief for David Hawpe. Unable to find anything else to criticize McConnell about, Hawpe has become a born-again fiscal conservative who dislikes earmarks (at least when McConnell procures them).

Note that McConnell was ranked as more powerful than John McCain or Hillary Clinton.

Kentucky's members of the House of Representatives did not do so well; the highest ranked was Ben Chandler, D-6th District, at No. 134. The only way to improve those numbers is to send Anne Northup back to Congress -- to replace John Yarmuth, who ranked a lowly 384.

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