Dianne Feinstein

I'd like to ask you a question about the heroin--or the opium poppy production in Afghanistan.

We can't be hypocrites. We can't go out there and say one thing and do another, and debase ourselves and debase our own people.

The issue is the local exchange and because of the particular 'proposition 13' situation where local revenues are so restricted, property taxes are so restricted, it is extraordinarily difficult. So utility user taxes, local exchange taxes…

I would like to be sure the record is correct. I appreciate the comments of the Senator from Oregon. He knows I respect him and enjoy working with him. There is no problem there. Let me make sure the record is correct. California's cities…

Yes. One final point. Throughout this act, reference is made to the ``accused.'' Would the Senator also agree that it is our intention to use this word in the broadest sense to include both those charged and convicted so that the rights we…

Now I would like to turn to the portion of the bill concerning administrative compliance with victims' rights, section 2, subsection (f). The provisions of this subsection are relatively self-explanatory, but it important to point out that…

This subsection provides that a failure to afford a right under the act does not provide grounds for a new trial. This provision demonstrates that victim's rights are not intended to be, nor are they, an attack on defendants' protections…

Yes, it is not our intent to restrict victims' rights or accommodations found in other laws. I would like to turn to the bill itself and address the first section, (a)(1), the right of the crime victim to be reasonably protected. Of…

Given the high cost and the still uncertain and untested technology, I found it surprising that President Bush has declared his intention to deploy a nation-wide missile defense this year.

Missile defense would have done nothing to stop 9/11.

I believe it would be folly and far too costly to place too much of an emphasis on missile defense.

I believe National Missile Defense is one of the key foreign policy and national security issues that we will face in the coming decades.

I share that concern.

The reason historically that there has been a three-State principle has been, I believe, the need to have at least six Senators in order to get the resources for a circuit because the Senate has such a vital role in confirming judges.

I will only reiterate the concern expressed by my distinguished late colleague, Judge Wiggins, who sat in Congress and who pointed out repeatedly in opposition to my distinguished colleagues that we should have a circuit made up of the…

The concern has been that the driving force here has been to create a new circuit in the Pacific Northwest from those States, and the concern has been that that is not a diverse interest because the reason for the movement to create a…

I think that is a very important point.

It would seem to me that rather than leave a case like that which so impacts the history of what this Nation is all about, a very solemn Pledge of Allegiance, the entire circuit would sit.

I would suggest that if we were to do this and do it right, it is going to have substantial cost to it well in excess of $100 million.

Well, I think that is important.

I am sure that is right. Thank you. I am sure that is right.

I particularly want to make a comment on Judge Wallace because I remember him appearing, I think, when he was chief judge on this same subject.

That is the fundamental question: Would a split improve the administration of justice and, if so, what should that split be?

And we clearly said in our report language that if you did, we'd fund it this year.

Well, you should be aware, respectfully, of the report language.