Allard ranked among 5 worst senators by 'Time'

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 17, 2006 at midnight

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Time magazine ranked Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard as one of the five worst U.S. senators in a story released online Sunday, a label his top aide called unfair.

The magazine dubbed the Republican from Loveland, "The Invisible Man." It said that despite his seniority, Allard's legislative output has been "dwarfed" by that of his second-year colleague, Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar, of Denver.

"Now in his 10th year, Allard almost never plays a role in major legislation, even though he's on two key Senate committees, budget and appropriations," the article states.

The article, which hits news stands today, calls the 62-year-old Allard "well liked," "polite, affable and willing to take on thankless tasks." But it also calls him one of Washington's "least influential senators."Salazar was not included in either the best or worst lists, nor among the freshman that Time called "Up and Comers."

Allard Chief of Staff Sean Conway said his boss was unavailable for comment on Easter. He called the Time rankings "laughable" and unfair.

"The U.S. Senate is comprised of two types of individuals: workhorses and show horses," Conway said in a statement. "Sen. Allard is proud to be a workhorse who is more interested in getting things done for Colorado than getting attention from the national media."

Allard was elected in 1996 and pledged to serve only two terms - through 2008. He reiterated the pledge in 2002, but has since been more ambiguous, saying he won't make a final decision until 2007.

He's expected to be in the national spotlight this summer, when the Senate takes up his proposed constitutional amendment banning same- sex marriage. It gained only 48 votes in 2004 - far short of the required two-thirds majority.

Time magazine rates the Senate

TEN BEST SENATORS

• Thad Cochran, R-Miss.

• Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

• Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

• Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.

• Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

• Carl Levin, D-Miss.

• Richard Lugar, R-Ind.

• John McCain, R-Ariz.

• Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine

• Arlen Specter, R-Pa.