Published 10/25/2006
Omaha World Herald's profile piece on Congressman Lee Terry.
BY JOSEPH� MORTON/WORLD HERALD BUREAU
WASHINGTON - In discussions about U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, the phrase "Capitol Hill power broker" doesn't get a lot of use.
Seniority rules in the House of Representatives, and high-level positions are dominated by veteran lawmakers.
No major bills bearing Terry's name have been passed, and his top legislative priority hasn't made it out of committee yet.
But he has been able to snag a minor GOP leadership position as a deputy whip, and supporters, constituents and fellow congressmen say the low-profile, four-term Republican has shown his influence in other important ways.
Unlike the three previous congressmen from the state's 2nd District, Terry was not able to land a spot on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax legislation.
Instead, he secured a seat on another top-tier panel, the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has been carving out a policy domain for himself on issues he sees as vital to Omaha and the region.
UNO political scientist Loree Bykerk said Terry faced challenges from the start - entering Congress as a younger man without the background as a major business or political figure and without a recognized area of expertise.
But while he is not viewed as "a policy heavyweight," he has begun to establish himself on certain issues and is taken seriously, Bykerk said.
Despite a solidly conservative voting record, Terry generally is viewed as less of an ideologue and more of a moderate who Democrats can work with, Bykerk said. That could be important if he holds onto his seat but Democrats take control of the House, she said.
Terry agreed that his willingness to work with Democrats on some issues would be a boon if the Democrats do win the House Nov. 7. He said he's proven he can work with those from the other party, and if control changes, "Instead of wanting to do that, I'd have to do that."
Terry has worked for changes in the federal Universal Service Fund. Traditional telephone companies and customers pay into the system, with the money then used to promote telephone access in areas with limited service.
But the fund is in fiscal trouble with the rise of new providers, such as Voice Over Internet Protocol services that are exempt from USF payments.
Terry is pushing legislation that would fold those new providers into the system and use the fund to promote broadband Internet access.
Progress on that issue has been slow, but Terry said he expects it to move forward by next spring.
Terry says that issues such as the Universal Service Fund aren't going to grab him a lot of attention. He also has done little to call attention to himself during his time in Washington, holding only a handful of press conferences.
But he said he has quietly worked to get things accomplished, even when that has meant moving out of the way and letting others take the credit.
"People feel I haven't done a lot out here, but I really have," Terry said.
Several of his initiatives have reached the president's desk by being folded into other legislation as amendments.
In particular, some Terry proposals were incorporated into last year's energy bill. Those included a measure to increase supplies of natural gas and two proposals aimed at promoting development and use of hydrogen fuel cells.
He said he also has worked hard to be an accessible congressman. Constituents and local officials have praised Terry for helping them in their struggles with federal bureaucrats.
During a telephone "town hall meeting" with constituents earlier this year, one man thanked Terry for contacting the Labor Department to help preserve the man's pension.
Terry, a former Omaha city councilman, has been helpful on city issues such as the cleanup of lead contamination in older parts of the city, said Paul Landow, chief of staff for Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey.
"He's intervened with the EPA several times and helped us wade through the rules," Landow said.
Terry helped Omaha libraries get federal computer money even after the city's technology department missed an application deadline. Other priorities have been preserving federal grants that support anti-drug efforts by local law enforcement and ensuring the future of Offutt Air Force Base.
Terry has been elected and re-elected by significant margins. He won with 61 percent of the vote in 2004, despite a serious challenge from State Sen. Nancy Thompson. He is now running against political newcomer Jim Esch, who has been waging a low-dollar, grass-roots effort.
Esch has criticized Terry as a back-bencher without much pull who follows what the president and party leaders say.
Terry said his reliable support for President Bush reflects that "conservative minds think alike." He said that outside of committee chairmen, few representatives get to put their stamp on major legislation.
Terry seems to always have a smile on his face and is known for a quirky sense of humor.
Once a week, Nebraska lawmakers gather in a Senate basement cafeteria to chat with constituents over coffee and muffins. They run through the state of the federal budget and discuss coming issues.
They also tell some really bad jokes. Terry is a frequent contributor.
At one session, Terry brought up the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, which is pronounced "Siphius." No, Terry assured the audience, it's not a problem for the Centers for Disease Control.
Joking aside, Terry has a "serious nature," understands issues and contributes "incisive comments" to discussions, said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee with Terry and has worked with him on Universal Service Fund legislation.
"I've been very impressed with Lee and his work," Boucher said.
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