Ensign gets heat on health grant

Last month Sen. John Ensign was singled out in a watchdog report after he voted against the $787 billion economic stimulus bill in February 2009, yet still tried to persuade bureaucrats to send some of its funding to Nevada projects.

That issue was replayed this week, this time concerning the health care reform bill that Congress passed in March.

Ensign voted against the bill, and cosponsored Republican legislation to repeal it. But in the meantime, over the summer he sought grant money from the bill for the University of Nevada School of Medicine to expand its residency program, according to a letter obtained and posted by the liberal Think Progress blog.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the University of Nevada indeed was awarded a $960,000 in grant funds.

"Ensign’s letter to HHS serves as a stark reminder that while Republicans have ludicrously smeared the health reform law with lies and demagoguery, in private they realize its benefits to their constituents," according to Think Progress blogger Lee Fang.

Ensign defended his actions in seeking stimulus grants, and issued a similar comment through an aide on why he sought a health care grant for Nevada even after voting against the health care bill.

"Senator Ensign has consistently voted against the spending bills coming out of Washington and has fought to restore fiscal responsibility," spokeswoman Jennifer Cooper said. "That said, once these bills are passed, there is a pot of money that is set aside, and without Senator Ensign's support for certain grants, Nevada would continue to not receive its fair share of tax dollars coming back into our state."