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In the News

Sen. Kent Conrad’s last stand

The Democrats’ “balanced-budget guy” is set to retire in January. Now he’s laying the groundwork for one last attempt to corral the nation’s soaring debt.

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Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. He has been the Democrats’ balanced-budget guy for more than a decade. In fact, he almost single-handedly forced President Obama to create the commission known as Simpson-Bowles, which produced a debt-reduction plan now hailed as a model of bipartisan compromise on taxes and government spending. Here, he speaks to colleague Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) before a hearing begins on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

After failing to build support for Simpson-Bowles last year, Conrad now believes the stars may finally align after the November elections for a compromise to dig the nation out from under its $15.4 trillion debt. Here, he discusses tax reform with Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as they walk to the Senate floor for a vote.

After failing to build support for Simpson-Bowles last year, Conrad now believes the stars may finally align after the November elections for a compromise to dig the nation out from under its $15.4 trillion debt. Here, he discusses tax reform with Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as they walk to the Senate floor for a vote.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

In addition to criticism from the GOP, Conrad's efforts at a budget deal have faced criticism from within his party. In November, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) dismissed Conrad’s efforts to strike a deal with anti-tax Republicans as “just happy talk.” Here, Conrad and Sessions make their way to the Senate floor.

In addition to criticism from the GOP, Conrad's efforts at a budget deal have faced criticism from within his party. In November, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) dismissed Conrad’s efforts to strike a deal with anti-tax Republicans as “just happy talk.” Here, Conrad and Sessions make their way to the Senate floor.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) described Conrad this way: “There’s no Democrat who knows the budget like he does. When he and I talk, we wind up agreeing with each other. But I have been frustrated that he’s not been willing to put a plan out there and fight for it.”

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) described Conrad this way: “There’s no Democrat who knows the budget like he does. When he and I talk, we wind up agreeing with each other. But I have been frustrated that he’s not been willing to put a plan out there and fight for it.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Conrad’s defenders argue that Washington has rarely done big things without bipartisan consensus. While Ryan relishes confrontation, his austere, no-new-taxes budget last year was savaged by Democrats and rejected by several members of his party in the Senate. Conrad, by contrast, has worked with Republicans behind closed doors to inch the public debate toward a middle ground embodied in the Simpson-Bowles recommendations.

Conrad’s defenders argue that Washington has rarely done big things without bipartisan consensus. While Ryan relishes confrontation, his austere, no-new-taxes budget last year was savaged by Democrats and rejected by several members of his party in the Senate. Conrad, by contrast, has worked with Republicans behind closed doors to inch the public debate toward a middle ground embodied in the Simpson-Bowles recommendations.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

“He wasn’t made for these times, in a lot of ways,” one senior Democratic aide said about Conrad. “It’s going to take an election to reset the terms of this debate.”

“He wasn’t made for these times, in a lot of ways,” one senior Democratic aide said about Conrad. “It’s going to take an election to reset the terms of this debate.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

It’s hard to imagine the Senate without Conrad, who turned 64 last week. His encyclopedic knowledge of the federal budget and its arcane rules have made him indispensable to his party in almost every major legislative battle of the past few years, including the fight to pass Obama’s health-care initiative in 2010. Here, Conrad rides the train en route to the Senate floor for a vote on Capitol Hill.

It’s hard to imagine the Senate without Conrad, who turned 64 last week. His encyclopedic knowledge of the federal budget and its arcane rules have made him indispensable to his party in almost every major legislative battle of the past few years, including the fight to pass Obama’s health-care initiative in 2010. Here, Conrad rides the train en route to the Senate floor for a vote on Capitol Hill.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Between meetings, Conrad speaks to his wife by telephone about the health of their dog.

Between meetings, Conrad speaks to his wife by telephone about the health of their dog.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Conrad's Capitol Hill office is filled with items from his home state of North Dakota.

Conrad's Capitol Hill office is filled with items from his home state of North Dakota.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

“His word is his bond. He never surprised me,” said former senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who for years served as Conrad’s GOP counterpart on the budget committee. Conrad and his wife are both “straight shooters with strong opinions who defend their beliefs. Everything is up front with them.”

“His word is his bond. He never surprised me,” said former senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who for years served as Conrad’s GOP counterpart on the budget committee. Conrad and his wife are both “straight shooters with strong opinions who defend their beliefs. Everything is up front with them.”

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Conrad is kissed on the hand by Sara Rosati, 12, who has Down syndrome, in the hallway outside his office on Capitol Hill. Conrad is known for his support of Down syndrome research.

Conrad is kissed on the hand by Sara Rosati, 12, who has Down syndrome, in the hallway outside his office on Capitol Hill. Conrad is known for his support of Down syndrome research.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

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