The lobbyist for Washington state is moving to a new job with substantial influence over critical issues for the state, including the Hanford nuclear reservation.

Doug Clapp has been named the clerk, or chief of staff, for the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. The subcommittee develops the Senate budget for Hanford and also controls the purse strings for money spent on other issues important to Eastern Washington, including energy, dams and irrigation.

"It's a very powerful staff role," said Tim Peckinpaugh, an attorney and lobbyist for the Tri-City Development Council.

Clapp was an aide to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and focused on natural resource issues before being hired by Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2005.

She reopened an office in Washington, D.C., to represent state issues and named Clapp director. The office had been closed three years earlier to save money.

Clapp lobbied the administration on issues such as Hanford funding, health care, employment security, timber policy, salmon policy, education and energy.

His work for Murray and Gregoire leaves him in a unique position to understand the issues important to the Mid-Columbia and the state, Peckinpaugh said. Although Clapp won't make funding decisions, he'll work closely with the Senators who do.

Mark Rupp has been named to replace Clapp as the state lobbyist. He's currently the governor's policy adviser on health care issues.