The Buzz: Dianne Feinstein, Lindsey Graham to be honored for something rare -- civility

Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are being honored for displaying a rare Washington commodity that will come in handy in the coming months.

The senior senators from one of the country's bluest states and one of its reddest will be feted this week at a National Press Club reception, where they will receive the Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life.

Democrat Feinstein, a fifth-term lawmaker and chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has introduced legislation to bar the sale of assault weapons, a ban that lapsed in 2004, a decade after Congress first imposed it.

Republican Graham, in his second term, is helping to lead a bipartisan group of eight senators pushing an overhaul of the nation's patchwork immigration system, with tougher border enforcement in exchange for a path toward citizenship for 11 million undocumented residents.

Graham and Feinstein are scheduled to discuss their approaches to politics at the ceremony Tuesday, when they will receive their awards.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who was the first secretary of homeland security after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, will help deliver the prizes.

– James Rosen, McClatchy Newspapers

BILL WATCH

Among the many gun-related measures introduced by Friday's deadline are two from Sacramento Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson. Assembly Bill 760 would set a nickel tax on each bullet sold in California and dedicate the money to a program screening children for mental illness. AB 761 would require CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from firms that manufacture, sell, distribute or market firearms or ammunition.

<;MX| >WORTH REPEATING

"After reading the Field Poll, I'm not sure how to break it to CA voters that they'll have to endure w/o leg(islative) supermajority for 18 whole days."

JASON KINNEY, Democratic consultant, commenting via Twitter on state Sen. Michael Rubio's surprise resignation. Senate Democrats could regain their supermajority if Democrat Ben Hueso wins outright March 12 during the special primary for the already vacant 40th Senate District seat.

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