Sen. Jim DeMint (R) of South Carolina, an influential Senate conservative, is making a strong push for a seat on the Finance Committee, one of the upper chamber’s most powerful panels.

DeMint ranks in seniority behind several other Republican senators who also want a seat on Finance, such as Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio) and Sen. Mike Enzi (Wyo.), who has been passed over twice.

“Sen. DeMint would be honored to serve on the Finance Committee because the selection should be based on merit, not seniority,” said DeMint spokesman Wesley Denton. “Sen. DeMint is a proven champion for fiscal responsibility that is desperately needed in Washington.”

DeMint, who was elected to the Senate in 2004, has amassed influence as leader of the conservative Senate Republican Steering Committee.

 “He’s introduced comprehensive legislation to reform the tax code, overhaul healthcare, reform Social Security, and he’s a strong supporter of free trade,” Denton added.

DeMint has also called for the abolishment of “the antiquated seniority system” so that Republican chairmen and ranking members of committees would be elected not based on their length of Senate service.

He hopes to leapfrog several more senior colleagues who are also interested in what is expected to be one open slot on Finance.

Enzi, who came to the chamber in 1996, and Voinovich, who was elected in 1998, have long aspired to the committee, which has broad jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Social Security and healthcare.

Two members of Finance, Sens. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.) lost reelection. However, Republicans are expected to compete for only one seat because Democrats will likely cut a GOP seat from the panel to reflect their larger majority in the 111th Congress.

Democrats, who held a 51-seat majority during the 110th Congress, could control between 57 and 60 seats in January depending on the outcome of the races in Alaska, Minnesota and Georgia.

Senate Republican conference rules empower McConnell to fill the expected opening.

McConnell circumvented seniority ranking when he tapped Sununu and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) to the panel during the 110th Congress.

His selection of Ensign in 2007 was seen as a reward for Ensign’s agreement to serve as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a job no other Republican senator wanted.

“As I told John when I made this decision, we appreciate his efforts on behalf of the conference and it’s important to recognize the efforts of people who do the heavy lifting around here on behalf of the team,” said McConnell when he made the appointment.

But seniority has traditionally held strong influence in the Republican conference and McConnell could feel pressure to take it into greater account than before.

Enzi made his displeasure plain when McConnell passed him over for a second time in favor of Sununu, who needed help for his tough reelection battle.

“I’m pissed,” Enzi told The Hill.

McConnell will have to balance the weight of seniority against DeMint’s clout as chairman of the steering committee.  

DeMint has become a thorn in the side of Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for repeatedly delaying Senate floor business to protest federal spending or the limitation of Republican amendments. But his tactics, which have occasionally forced the Senate to stay in session late into the week, has also exasperated GOP colleagues at times.

Republican members of the Appropriations Committee have also become weary at times with DeMint’s constant criticism of earmarks.

But DeMint has retained support among the Senate GOP’s conservative wing. The steering committee renamed him chairman for another two-year term last week.

DeMint hopes to use a seat on the Finance Committee to take a prominent stand against what he predicts will be attempts by Democrats to raise taxes.

“Now that liberals have gained ground in Congress and at the White House, it will be more important than ever for conservatives to stand strong for common sense values and fight against efforts to reduce liberty,” said DeMint in a recent statement. “Liberals have vowed to raise taxes, explode spending, slash military funding, eliminate the secret ballot at the workplace, give government control over our healthcare and attack our values of protecting life and traditional marriage.”