Re: An Update From Senator Dianne Feinstein

From: “Robert D. Skeels” <****@alumni.ucla.edu>
Date: May 10, 2017 11:38:13 PDT
To: Senator Dianne Feinstein <senator@feinstein.senate.gov>
Subject: Re: An Update From Senator Dianne Feinstein

On May 10, 2017, at 10:48, Senator Dianne Feinstein wrote:

Feinstein Releases Statement on Trump’s First 100 Days (April 28, 2017)
“President Trump in his first 100 days has had more false starts, failed policies and bad ideas than most presidents have in an entire term.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

Trump has been awful, as we all knew he would. As a person on the left, I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party, who didn’t share the neoliberal consensus that Clinton, Trump, and you yourself, Senator, hold in common.

Feinstein Introduces Bill to Shield Farmworkers from Deportation (May 3, 2017)
“Despite their significant contributions to California’s economy and communities, farmworkers are now a priority for deportation under this administration’s shameful policies. We simply must protect the families who help put food on our tables.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

Impressive Senator. Particularly given how terrible both you and your party have been on immigration. My 2L Immigration Law paper was specifically on this topic. That paper was later republished in Jacobin magazine under the title “No Friend of Immigrants”. I hope you and your staff have an opportunity to read it.

Feinstein, Colleagues Introduce LGBT Non-Discrimination Bill (May 2, 2017)
The Equality Act of 2017 would ensure full federal non-discrimination equality by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to other protected classes, such as race or religion, in existing federal laws. The bill would explicitly ban discrimination in a host of areas, including employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, and federal funding. To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

How exciting! Too bad you waited until 2017 to introduce a bill that you should have championed many years ago.

FEINSTEIN ON REPEAL OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Republican Health Care Plan Would Devastate Families (May 4, 2017)
“I am 100 percent opposed to the House-passed health care bill. The bill passed today is even worse than the version in March that failed to get enough Republican votes to pass. But we don’t know exactly how bad the bill is or what it would cost because House Republicans jammed it through without an independent analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. This is outrageous and the height of hypocrisy. To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

ACA is awful, but I agree with you that any GOP alternative will be even worse. Here’s an idea that probably hasn’t occurred to ultra-wealthy folk like you: Single Payer Health Care.

Don’t tell me it can’t be done. As a Veteran, I already have single payer. It works, and it is vastly superior to market based systems where unbridled greed — rather than healthcare — drives everything.

New Bill Would Safeguard Women’s Preventive Health Care Services (May 4, 2017)
“The Republican plan would hold our state hostage by denying tax credits to Californians unless the state changes its law — even though the Affordable Care Act adheres to federal law. This is a punitive policy that would cause significant harm to women in my state and we are doing all we can to defeat it.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.
Latest House Health Care Scheme Would Devastate Care for Millions (April 26, 2017)
“This version is still a tax cut for the richest Americans and would cause 24 million Americans to lose their insurance. Even worse, House Republicans now want to allow insurance companies to offer plans that don’t cover essential health care services, like mental health and maternity care, and charge those with pre-existing conditions much more.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

As a Californian, and as a human being who despises misogyny, I find the GOP’s plans objectionable.

KEY VOTES
Nomination of Alexander Acosta, Labor Secretary (April 26, 2017)
Voted NO
“I simply don’t believe Alexander Acosta’s record indicates that he would serve the workers of this country.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

Feinstein Votes Against Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood (March 30, 2017)
Voted NO
“The effect of this callous effort by congressional Republicans will be that fewer women get the health care they need. That’s shameful.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

How did you vote on the arch-reactionary SCOTUS nominee? How did you vote on the Klansman that was nominated for Attorney General? I’d like to know those two votes.

KEY STATEMENTS
Feinstein Opposes Cutting Access to State Retirement Programs (May 3, 2017)
“This rule was a commonsense guideline to make it easier for Americans to save for retirement. When an individual has access to a workplace retirement savings program they are 15 times more likely to save for retirement. Repealing this retirement rule means California won’t be able to provide retirement savings access for 7.5 million workers.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

Good. We need to go much further to ensure that workers can retire to something other than abject poverty.

Feinstein Opposes Offshore Drilling Executive Order (April 28, 2017)
“Rather than developing a long-term energy plan that moves us away from dirty fossil fuels, the president has elected to sign another reckless and unnecessary executive order.” To read the press release, CLICK HERE.

Given your rather extensive support of the petroleum industry, and other environmentally unfriendly sectors, this is a surprising stance for you. Of course, since it’s merely a statement against an executive order, it’s really meaningless.

FEINSTEIN TOWN HALLS
Senator Feinstein hosted two town halls in April — one in San Francisco and another in Los Angeles — where she took dozens of questions from constituents. Those unable to ask their questions were encouraged to email questions to the senator, who has been answering them online. Here are some of her answers:

It would seem that you’re gearing up for reelection. No surprises there. I recall voting for you in 1992 thinking that you wouldn’t be as far right-of-center as many Democrats were trending during that era. You proved me wrong, and have been a reactionary vote in many cases. Your vile imperialism, and almost inhumane penchant for military interventions have repeatedly kept me from voting for you since then. I will not vote for you in future elections either.