WASHINGTON — Rep. Diana DeGette jumped in power while Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Mark Udall tumbled in a new ranking of lawmakers.
DeGette, a Denver Democrat, placed first among Colorado’s seven House members in the listing from , a subsidiary of a nonpartisan company that provides data to lobbyists.
“Having people who are senior and on key committees really helps the state get what it needs,” DeGette said.
In the Senate, Democrat Ken Salazar ranked 46th out of 100, up from 50 last year. Allard, who is retiring, ranked 79th compared with last year’s 65.
The listing ranks lawmakers on factors that include seniority and committee assignments, bill passage and sending money to the state.
DeGette jumped to No. 61 out of 435 House members from 116 last year, in part because she authoring legislation on embryonic stem-cell research that, while vetoed, passed Congress.
Udall, an Eldorado Springs Democrat, slipped to 230 in the House from 121 last year.
He lost points because he is running for the U.S. Senate, which the list compilers consider a loss of influence while he is campaigning.
