Ensign’s more conservative than Reid is liberal

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is one of the most conservative members of the U.S. Senate, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is only the 25th most liberal, according to the Washington magazine National Journal's recently released annual congressional ratings.

Ensign tied with three other senators for No. 1 on the conservative scale in 2008; he was the 94th most liberal member of the body. Reid, whose critics back home like to portray him as an out-of-control liberal partisan, is actual closer to the middle of his party's pack based on his votes last year, and 73rd most conservative, according to the Journal.

As for the state's three members of the House of Representatives, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., was 181st most liberal and 247th most conservative. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., ranked 126th on the conservative scale and 302nd on the liberal side. Former Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., ousted in November, was 191st most conservative and 237th most liberal.

There are 100 senators and 435 representatives. Middle of the pack in the House would be 218.