Schatz named to Democratic leadership post in Senate
BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz delivers an address at the IUCN World Conservation Congress opening ceremony at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center arena on Sept. 1.
The Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate has named Sen. Brian Schatz as one of the chief deputy whips, a leadership job Schatz said will give him a greater role in shaping policy and communications for the minority Democrats.
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was also named chief deputy whip, and the two will join U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who already holds that post.
“I’m deeply honored to serve in this new leadership role,” Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, said in a news release. “We have a lot of work to do in the Senate, and this new post puts me in a better position to help shape and defend our priorities. I look forward to working with Senators Booker and Merkley and our diverse leadership team on building a stronger future for Hawaii and our country.”
Schatz and Booker are two of the youngest members of the Senate, and Minority Whip Dick Durbin said in a written statement that both lawmakers have “proven their mettle as leading policy minds in our country, and have earned a place helping to shape policy and communications in our caucus. Our team is stronger for their experience and vision.”
Schatz faced only nominal opposition in the 2016 election, and winning more than 70 percent of the vote. After the election he was appointed to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees federal housing and transit agencies.
Schatz already served on the Senate committees on Appropriations; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Indian Affairs; and Ethics.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
21 responses to “Schatz named to Democratic leadership post in Senate”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
chief deputy whip, wow he’s really going places. In 50 years when democrats possible win back congress and the white house, he’ll be right there.
demos are looking 8 years from now so need a youth corps to relate to today’s millennial. schatz as our senior senator and tulsi as our junior senator will position our state for better representation. marie and colleen will be too old by then, and be powerless for the next 8 years as minority party members.
time to look forward rather than in the past. hawaii will be irrelevant without ‘senior’ representation in 8 years.
hmmm, are they grooming him to be the next Barry2? Yikes!
Small fish in a big pond (Commerce Committee). Too many chiefs, not enough Indians (Indian Affairs committee). I could go on mixing metaphors all day with this guy.
Great to have somebody like Schatz with such a bright future as one of this country’s young leaders representing Hawaii. In times like these, we need more people like him to with steady mind to steer this country in the correct path instead of the cliff where the GOP is leading us.
Proud of our Schatz. We take back the Senate in 2018. We gained seats in 2016.
man these liberals with mental disorders are scraping the bottom of the barrel putting Schatz in a leadership roll. sad case.
Yeah except most mentally disordered Liberals know how to spell “role.”
Schatz should be ashamed of himself for casting his vote at the DNC for Clinton even though it was Bernie who won the voting in Hawaii. Party rules may have allowed it but that doesn’t make it right.
He substituted his own preference and ignored the wishes of the people who elected him. He should be run out of office and retired with his mentor Abercrombie.
Schatz has no shame. He rolled Abercrombie under the bus.
Making coffee isn’t a leadership position…..
You’re part of the problem schitz, not the solution.
Leadership post? That is a laugh. The duties of the majority whip are to (1) assist the floor leader, (2) ensure member attendance, (3) count votes and (4) generally communicate the majority position. Translation: He is a flunky for Senator Schummer.
Not sure how effective he will be with his lips so stuck on Obama’s butt that he can’t do anything on his own accord.
Many negative comments. He must be doing well else how did he got chosen for those “important” titles and positions?
Nobody else wanted the dirty job.
congratulations, mr shatz. it’s comparable to captain edward smith promoting a cabin boy to chief mate. good luck.
“…Schatz said will give him a greater role in shaping policy and communications for the minority Democrats.”
Communicate this: When the polls say the Dems are ahead, DON’T take it for granted. Verify the info. DON’T discount and minimize the Voters, Especially in Flyover country. Reach out to EVERYONE instead of just paying lip service. And take care of the AMERICAN people first.
Watching the Democrats vet Sessions for AG make me sick.
Big deal- he still has not done anything
A useless position for a useless and ineffective little cry baby. Known as Abercrombie’s boy, he won’t be in office after the next election.