After three month absence, Sen. Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate
Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to the Senate on Wednesday for the first time since mid-February, giving Democrats a crucial vote that’s stymied their efforts to approve judges and pass key legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who confirmed her return, welcomed the 89-year-old California Democrat.
“I’m glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, it’s clear she’s back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California,” he said in a statement.
Without Feinstein, the Senate Judiciary Committee lacked the majority needed to approve most judges nominated by President Joe Biden.
That meant a backlog of judicial nominees opposed by Republicans. Democrats tried to fill the Feinstein seat temporarily but were blocked by the GOP
With Feinstein returning, the judicial nominees should be able to start moving again, with 11-to-10 committee votes.
Once on the floor, they should have little trouble winning approval, since Democrats control 51 of the Senate’s 49 votes.
The return of Feinstein also gives the Democrats an edge on close votes. During her absence, Republicans won an effort to overturn a Biden administration rule limiting truck emissions when Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, sided with 49 Republicans. The GOP plan was then approved by a 50 to 49 vote
Had Feinstein been present, the result would have been a 50-50 tie broken by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Feinstein had been staying at her San Francisco home after suffering a case of shingles. A senator since 1992, she plans to retire when her current term ends in 2025.
Although she has been out of the public eye, last week she issued a statement noting that the Senate “continues to swiftly confirm highly qualified individuals to the federal judiciary, including seven more judicial nominees who were confirmed this week. There has been no slowdown.”
But she also noted many judges have not been approved. “I’m disappointed that Republicans on the committee are blocking a few from moving forward,” the senator said.
“I’m confident that when I return to the Senate, we will be able to move the remaining qualified nominees out of committee quickly and to the Senate floor for a vote,” she added.
Senate Democrats were patient as they waited for Feinstein to return, but liberal groups in California and four members of Congress, including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, urged her to step down.
This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 12:48 PM.
.jpg)