Difference between revisions of "Dianne Feinstein"
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After Feinstein's unsuccessful Gubernatorial race in 1990, she was fined $190,000 for failure to properly report campaign contributions. In 2003, she was ranked the fifth wealthiest senator, with an estimated net worth of $26 million. By 2005 her net worth had increased up to $99 million. Her 347-page financial disclosure statement draws clear lines between her assets and those of her husband, with many of her assets in blind trusts. While on the MILCON subcommittee, Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions of dollars to firms owned by her husband. In April of 2007 she resigned from the committee even though her office denied any ethical conflict. The scandal has largely been ignored by the media. | After Feinstein's unsuccessful Gubernatorial race in 1990, she was fined $190,000 for failure to properly report campaign contributions. In 2003, she was ranked the fifth wealthiest senator, with an estimated net worth of $26 million. By 2005 her net worth had increased up to $99 million. Her 347-page financial disclosure statement draws clear lines between her assets and those of her husband, with many of her assets in blind trusts. While on the MILCON subcommittee, Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions of dollars to firms owned by her husband. In April of 2007 she resigned from the committee even though her office denied any ethical conflict. The scandal has largely been ignored by the media. | ||
| − | In January 2009, Feinstein violated Senate ethics rules to avoid conflicts of interest | + | In January 2009, the issue was raised whether Feinstein violated Senate ethics rules to avoid appearances of conflicts of interest when she introduced legislation that indirectly gave $25 billion to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to help finance an FDIC proposal to avoid home foreclosures by promoting loan workouts and increasing federal loan guarantees. Just before the FDIC had signed a contract with CBRE, her husband's firm, to unload foreclosed properties for prices higher than industry averages. Spokesmen for the FDIC, Feinstein and CBRE said there was no connection between the legislation and the contract and that the couple didn't know about CBRE's business with FDIC until after it was awarded. <ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/feinstein_fdic_husband/2009/04/21/205455.html</ref> |
| − | indirectly gave $25 billion | + | |
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/ Official Website] | *[http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/ Official Website] | ||
Revision as of 18:19, April 21, 2009
| Dianne Feinstein | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| U.S. Senator from California From: November 10, 1992 – Present | |||
| Predecessor | John F. Seymour | ||
| Successor | Incumbent (no successor) | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Democrat | ||
| Spouse(s) | Judge Jack Berman (div.) Bertram Feinstein (deceased) Richard C. Blum | ||
| Religion | Judaism | ||
Dianne Feinstein, born June 22, 1933 (age 93), is the Senior Senator for California in the United States Senate. She is a Democrat.
Political career
Dianne Feinstein became Mayor of San Francisco in 1978 upon the assassination of Mayor George Moscone. She was elected in 1979 and then reelected in 1983. In 1990, Feinstein made an unsuccessful bid for Governor of California, losing to Republican Senator Pete Wilson. However, she did win his Senate seat in a special election and has been reelected three times. She is currently the Chairman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
Political positions
Feinstein supported the Iraq war resolution in the vote of October 11, 2002 but has said she was misled by the President. She is also strongly opposed to 2nd amendment rights and supports amnesty for Illegal Aliens. While she is not considered a conservative, she is more moderate on many issues then most Democrats. Feinstein supports the USA PATRIOT Act saying it helps the "protection of the American people." She is also a supporter of capital punishment and was the main Democratic sponsor of the 2006 constitutional flag burning amendment. She has a pro-abortion voting record.
Corruption and scandals
After Feinstein's unsuccessful Gubernatorial race in 1990, she was fined $190,000 for failure to properly report campaign contributions. In 2003, she was ranked the fifth wealthiest senator, with an estimated net worth of $26 million. By 2005 her net worth had increased up to $99 million. Her 347-page financial disclosure statement draws clear lines between her assets and those of her husband, with many of her assets in blind trusts. While on the MILCON subcommittee, Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions of dollars to firms owned by her husband. In April of 2007 she resigned from the committee even though her office denied any ethical conflict. The scandal has largely been ignored by the media.
In January 2009, the issue was raised whether Feinstein violated Senate ethics rules to avoid appearances of conflicts of interest when she introduced legislation that indirectly gave $25 billion to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to help finance an FDIC proposal to avoid home foreclosures by promoting loan workouts and increasing federal loan guarantees. Just before the FDIC had signed a contract with CBRE, her husband's firm, to unload foreclosed properties for prices higher than industry averages. Spokesmen for the FDIC, Feinstein and CBRE said there was no connection between the legislation and the contract and that the couple didn't know about CBRE's business with FDIC until after it was awarded. [1]