Dianne Feinstein & an Averted Government Shutdown
The gossip from the week.
A love letter to Senator Feinstein;
Dianne Feinstein, who passed away at age 90, was a trailblazing U.S. Senator with a remarkable political journey. Before her tenure in the Senate, she made history by becoming the first woman to serve as the mayor of her hometown, San Francisco. A graduate of Stanford University, her political career began in 1960 when she was appointed to the California Women's Parole Board. Over the years, she served as a member and president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Following the tragic assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978, Feinstein assumed the role of acting mayor and later became San Francisco's first female mayor after a Board of Supervisors vote. During her mayoralty, she oversaw significant improvements, including overhauling the city's cable car system and navigating the city through the AIDS/HIV crisis. Feinstein's moderate stance in a liberal city allowed her to build consensus across the aisle. Subsequently, she ran for governor in 1990, but her most enduring legacy was her election as California's first female U.S. senator in 1992 during the "Year of the Woman." She was re-elected five times and received a record-breaking 7.86 million votes in 2012. President Joe Biden praised her contributions to national security, the environment, and civil liberties, highlighting her role as a mentor to countless public servants. Feinstein's passing leaves a significant void, with her chief of staff describing her as a "force of nature" whose legacy will endure for generations.
Dianne Feinstein's legacy left an indelible mark on American politics and paved the way for women in the political arena. As the first woman to become mayor of San Francisco and California's first female U.S. senator, Feinstein shattered gender barriers, demonstrating that women could not only compete but excel in the highest echelons of government. Her groundbreaking achievements during the "Year of the Woman" in 1992, alongside other female candidates, set a precedent for women entering politics. Feinstein's determination, leadership, and resilience inspired aspiring women leaders across the nation, encouraging them to pursue their political ambitions with confidence. Through her tenacity and dedication, Feinstein played a pivotal role in advancing the cause of gender equality in politics, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to empower and motivate women to seek and achieve positions of influence and leadership in the United States.
An Averted Government Shutdown:
Late on Saturday, President Joe Biden averted the looming threat of a federal government shutdown by signing a temporary funding bill, which was hastily approved by Congress in a bipartisan effort. While the package dropped aid to Ukraine, a White House priority that faced opposition from a growing number of GOP lawmakers, it increased federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, aligning with Biden's request. This funding measure will keep the government running until November 17. After abandoning demands for significant spending cuts, Speaker Kevin McCarthy relied on Democratic support to pass the bill, even jeopardizing his own position. The Senate followed suit, closing a tumultuous day in Congress. This outcome temporarily ends the shutdown threat, but as Congress will need to fund the government again in the coming weeks, potential challenges loom, especially among right-wing lawmakers. Nonetheless, this development underscores the importance of bipartisanship in averting a disruptive federal shutdown that could have affected millions of Americans and federal workers.
End note: we will have to return to this issue in November.
With that, I’ll see you next week.
XO, Jen