Democrats atwitter about Ensign’s geothermal tweet

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign bragged on the social networking Web site Twitter about an amendment to return millions of dollars to rural Nevada in geothermal royalties, not mentioning he voted against the bill 45 minutes earlier on Wednesday.

Nevada Democrats were quick to pounce, calling the Republican a hypocrite.

"He co-sponsored the amendment and was quick to take credit for the good news," said Phoebe Sweet, communications director for the Nevada State Democratic Party. "But obviously playing politics took precedence today."

Ensign had no comment. Spokeswoman Rebecca Fisher said it was a "staff screw-up" by a new office webmaster who was "tweeting" under Ensign's name and was unaware that the vote had taken place.

"Obviously not ideal, but certainly not intentional," Fisher said.

Ensign and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., had won an amendment that would boost the county share of royalties from geothermal leasing. They estimated Churchill County alone could get $4 million a year.

When it came to a final vote on the underlying bill, a $140 billion measure that provides tax breaks to businesses and extends jobless benefits and health insurance subsidies to the end of the year, Reid voted for it, and Ensign voted against it.

The bill passed 62-36. In a statement, Ensign said it was too expensive and didn't do enough to address job creation.

Forty-five minutes after the vote, a note was sent to Ensign's Twitter followers. "Geothermal royalties are returning to their rightful recipients: the taxpayers of Nevada," it said .

"Ensign not only voted against the bill ... but then tried to take credit for its passage," the Nevada Democrats said in a statement.