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Sen. Domenici leaves mark on U.S. budget, energy policy, mental health care

By James W. Brosnan
Originally published 08:17 a.m., October 4, 2007
Updated 11:35 a.m., October 4, 2007

WASHINGTON — In New Mexico, Sen. Pete Domenici's impact could be measured in payrolls and pavement, and often in the bottom-line budgets for the state's weapons laboratories, military bases and local projects.

In Washington, Domenici will always be known for his willingness to take on tough, complex issues with little political dividend — like corralling the nation's budget or which form of energy to subsidize.

Domenici's ability to deliver pork while trimming fat may have helped him survive 36 years in the Senate, a longer stint than any previous member of Congress from New Mexico.

It also allowed him to become one of only a handful of really well-known Republican senators, University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato said.

Domenici came to prominence during heated budget battles during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

As either the chairman or ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee he was a negotiator on the two biggest budget deals of the '90s — the 1990 agreement by which President George H.W. Bush agreed to raise taxes in exchange for caps on defense and domestic spending, and the 1997 balanced budget agreement with President Clinton.

Former Tennessee Sen. Jim Sasser served on the Budget Committee with Domenici in the late '80s and early '90s, both as the ranking Democrat and the chairman.

"Pete Domenici was not enthusiastic about any tax increase, but he was a concerned fiscal conservative and he always had great concern about the rising deficit," said Sasser. "But he did not see that revenues were the way. He always looked to reduce spending."

Sasser added, Domenici is a "very decent man, and I thought he always fought ferociously for the interests of New Mexico."

For New Mexico, most of Domenici's battles have been fought as a powerful member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he has earmarked appropriations for state projects and the Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories.

But some of Domenici's causes were distinctly personal.

After a mental illness was diagnosed in his daughter Clare while she was in her 20s, Domenici and his wife, Nancy, learned from family support groups about the disparity that exists between insurance coverage for mental illnesses compared with physical illnesses.

Eliminating that disparity caused Domenici to join forces with two decidedly liberal senators — the late Paul Wellstone of Minnesota and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Domenici and Kennedy appear on the verge of passing into law a measure that would prohibit insurance companies from charging more for co-payments or limiting visits for mental health treatments.

Kennedy said Domenici "will be long remembered for his passion and perseverance to achieve fair and equitable treatment of mental health care for all."

After the budget wars, Domenici took the senior seat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee where he has become the foremost advocate in Congress for nuclear power. It led him to write a 2004 book, "A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy."

Domenici has alternated as chairman and ranking member of the Energy Committee with Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a Silver City Democrat.

After failing to pass energy legislation in 2003 and 2004, Domenici worked closely with Bingaman on a bipartisan bill in 2005 that passed, authorizing new assistance for nuclear power, "clean coal" plants and renewable solar, wind and geothermal energy.

Last week, Domenici beamed as a Texas company announced at the Energy Committee hearing room that it had filed for the first government permit to build a new nuclear power plant since the 1970s.

One lobbyist for energy companies, Frank Maisano, said the country has a lot to thank Domenici for.

"He's been a stalwart on energy and budget issues. Those are the types of things that most people don't understand and are difficult to wade through," said Maisano.

"He deserves substantial credit for the passage of the 2005 energy bill," Bingaman told the Tribune.

Bingaman also predicted there will be a "renaissance" for nuclear power in the United States thanks to Domenici's efforts.

Last week, Domenici beamed as a Texas company announced at the Energy Committee hearing room that it had filed for the first government permit to build a new nuclear power plant since the 1970s.

Bingaman said he thought that their working together on issues for New Mexico paved the way for their cooperation on energy issues.

He said he was surprised by Domenici's decision, because up until now Domenici had given every indication he was planning to run again. Bingaman said Domenici has remained very active on the job despite having to put up with his aches and pains.