Senate Report Card: Mike Enzi R-WY

Senator Mike Enzi is the senior Republican United States Senator from the state of Wyoming. He assumed office in 1997, and was reelected in 2002.

Senator Enzi serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Budget, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees as well as the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of which he is the ranking member.

He is considered one of the most conservative members of the Senate Republicans.

Enzi supported the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act, which includes provisions that improve math, science and critical foreign language education in United States students from elementary school through graduate school. It supports improvements to teacher preparation, establishes stronger links between graduate schools and employers, provides funding to support students trained at the doctoral level in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, while enhancing federal programs that support students in graduate school. The goal being a more competitive workforce for the future at a time when American students are lagging far behind its world competitors with regards to math and science specifically.

Senator Enzi was a great supporter of the federal minimum wage increase, although it came after years of debate on the Senate and a push from the Democrats. Enzi saw the original incarnation of the bill as an overly simplified approach to the minimum wage bill, and instead accepted a bipartisan approach that will help relieve the burden that federal regulation, taxation and mandates place on small businesses.

The senator believes that abortion should only occur in rare circumstances and is generally pro life. He does not support any federal funds to be used in abortion circumstances.

He is in favor of the No Child Left Behind Act and for teacher testing, then to pay based on merit. He believes a voucher system should be used by parents to choose where they wish their child to attend.

Enzi is against gun control. He believes citizens should be able to carry concealed weapons. He is in favor of removing gun restrictions currently in place.

Senator Enzi is in favor of restoring full diplomatic relations with Cuba and maintaining recognition and relations with Taiwan.

Senator Mike Enzi voted in favor of using military force against Iraq. He has opposed efforts to pull out of Iraq and is against timelines to set for a withdrawal. He has criticized colleagues for being irresponsible in calling for any withdraw.

Senator Mike Enzi is facing reelection in Wyoming in 2008.