Could the top Democratic spot on the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee go to the top Democrat in the Senate? There is speculation that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), in line to be the Senate’s Minority Leader after a long tenure as Majority Leader, could seek the ranking member spot currently held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee in an effort to better fight off a push to revitalize the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Reid’s office did not respond to a request for comment, but Reid’s seniority would allow him to make such a move and he has a history on the Energy and Water panel. He would have to give up his spot as Minority Leader to make the move, and while Reid’s return remains the subject of speculation, one Congressional aide suggested it might not make sense for him to give up his leadership spot. “To me he’d be more effective remaining as minority leader and influencing both appropriations and authorization,” the aide said.
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