Heller delivers first Senate speech

WASHINGTON -- Once upon a time freshmen in the U.S. Senate were seen and not heard.

Depending on the era and the individual, some remained silent during debate for months or even years, believing their humility would impress their colleagues, according to the Senate historical office.

While some might argue the times have changed from when humility was a common trait in the Senate, some senators in modern times have held to custom for their maiden speeches. The latest to do so was Sen. Dean Heller, D-Nev.

Heller had not uttered a public word on the Senate floor in four months and 11 days, from when he was sworn in to office on May 9 until Tuesday, when he gave a 14-minute address on jobs and the economy.

Heller's message was one he has delivered regularly in other venues: Congress is paralyzed by partisanship and is failing to address pressing problems caused by "government spending and the national debt."

"The truth is, Washington has not done enough to get our nation back on track, and the American public knows it," he said. "From all corners of Nevada and our nation, the message is clear: The status quo is not working."

Explaining the wait, Heller said he wanted to hold with Senate tradition, in contrast with the U.S. House, where Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., was given the opportunity to address colleagues within minutes of being sworn in last Thursday.

"The Senate does things a little differently," said Heller, 51. "I respect the rules, and for that reason we waited a little bit longer and made sure we were prepared."

"The tradition of new members being seen and not heard has a long history in the Senate," said Katherine Scott, assistant Senate historian. "This began to change in the 1960s probably because, as one freshman explained in 1965, 'We don't feel there's time to waste on that old seen-and-not-heard business.' "

Since then it has become more common for members to offer maiden speeches within the first few months of their term, Scott said.

Some senators don't wait long at all. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., took to the floor on Jan. 14, 1987, 11 days after taking office. He spoke on taxpayer rights.

Former Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., gave his maiden speech, on education reform, on March 1, 2001, 58 days after taking office. The first remarks by former Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., came 22 days after taking office in 1989.

For Heller, an appointed senator who is running for election in 2012, completing the rite of first speech opens the gate for more appearances.

"This starts our ability to get down on the (Senate) floor now and start taking action necessary to turn this economy around," he said after the speech. "You are going to see a lot of stuff out there. We are going to talk about burdensome regulations and too-high taxes."

Nevada Democrats criticized Heller's speech. Party spokesman Zach Hudson said Heller "finally pretends to be concerned about job creation during his maiden speech in the U.S. Senate."

Reid, the majority leader, congratulated Heller on the speech: "It will be the first of many. The first one is always the hardest; after that it's a lot easier."

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 775-687-3901.

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Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. Michael Green Sep. 21, 2011 | 6:13 p.m. Report Abuse

   n7v, thanks for that update. I'd thought Heller was totally useless. It turns out he doesn't always vote with that lying, racist idiot Rand Paul. There's hope for Heller yet.

2. TheShadow Sep. 21, 2011 | 8:27 a.m. Report Abuse

   Must have been a slow news day.

3. n7v.blogspot.com Sep. 20, 2011 | 8:50 p.m. Report Abuse

   The choices are clear: We can continue down this path, which leads to bigger government, higher taxes ..
   
   Heller should know. The other day he voted with Harry Reid (and against Rand Paul) by casting a vote FOR the funding of FEMA. As did many of Heller's so-called conservative colleagues.
   
   More government. Higher taxes.
   
   Heller didn't even support Rand Paul's fiscally prudent amendment to the bill, which would have forced Congress to pay for the FEMA appropriation by cutting the budget someplce else.
   
   We have one-party rule in this country. The BIG Government Democrats and the BIG Government Republicans.

4. rex Sep. 20, 2011 | 5:41 p.m. Report Abuse

   Let's work together? Just do it "our" way without partisanship scab ling! What a moron! Nice appointee by pinhead!

5. Virgil A. Sestini Sep. 20, 2011 | 4:05 p.m. Report Abuse

   Senator Heller you tried to make a big impression with your first speach in the Senate today. Want to really impress Nevadans and other citizens why don't you speak out about the need to cut back on on all Congressional Social Welfare Entitlements that you and our other respresentatives in Congress have voted for themelves and yourself? Its time to eliminate the entitlements for your 4 day a week job like life time health care insurance, life long nursing home care, life long life insurance, life time salaries after one term in office, no need to pay SS or Medicare for your benefits. It all costs us money, and sadly the clowns in congress voted for them, vote to continue and increase them every year without approval of the American taxpaying voters. Want to impress the people, begin a campaign with legislation designed to eliminate these 'special and rich perks fopr all of congres'; You legislators want to cheat us out of our 30 years of earning SS and Medicare by calling them 'entitlements' and saying they are 'ponzi schemes'. Don't try to steal what we have already earned by making us the sacrificial lambs for your Republican Budget Reduction plans to cut taxes for the rich, very rich and filthy rich. Fire up and put a law into play that will take care of all of the Congressional entitlements before even considering any attack on SS and Medicare.

6. DeltaSigChi4 Sep. 20, 2011 | 4:02 p.m. Report Abuse

   I believe what is right for this nation is for people to start blanket complaining and faulting everything and everyone besides their own damn selves. Everyone is a martyr these days. The three trillion dollars it cost for the wars of terror has nothing to do with the damage to the economy right? The rampant deregulation that led to the raping of the housing sector by the banks had nothing to do with the damage to the economy either. Some of you do not reside in reality. Teaparty voters I would presume.
   
   E

7. Dave.Mogstad Sep. 20, 2011 | 3:53 p.m. Report Abuse

   What progress are you talking about Judy?! Do you mean this country's downward spiral to a nanny-state and socialism? The way I see it, government is standing in the way of any progress, through the implementation of rules and regulations that have all but killed our economy. Do you really believe that's what's right for this country?

8. MIKE VEGAS Sep. 20, 2011 | 3:46 p.m. Report Abuse

   I'M SURE THIS COUNTRY NEEDED ANOTHER SPEECH. I GOT UP THIS AM AND SAID WE COULD USE ANOTHER SPEECH, WE'VE HAD FAR TO MUCH ACTION LATELY.

9. Judy Sep. 20, 2011 | 2:57 p.m. Report Abuse

   He will just be one of the TeaGOP that stand in the way of progress in Congress with a NO vote on anything that our President proposes.
   
   Notice he did not answer his own rhetorical question: 'Do we have the courage to overcome partisan divides and work together to solve our nation's problems?'
   
   He has no intention of doing what is right for this country.

10. Kilgore.Trout Sep. 20, 2011 | 2:33 p.m. Report Abuse

    Wow, that's inspiring. Do you think ensign and Gov sonny wrote it for him?