Kevin Kiley: “First, I extend my wishes and prayers to the family of Senator Feinstein. Dianne Feinstein dedicated her life to public…”

“First, I extend my wishes and prayers to the family of Senator Feinstein. Dianne Feinstein dedicated her life to public service, and her passing is a profound loss for our State and country. I also congratulate Laphonza Butler on her appointment to the Senate by Governor Newsom, and I say that with all sincerity. I harbor no ill will in any form against Ms. Butler. She apparently wasn't even expecting this appointment and only learned about it when she got a call from the Governor, and she agreed to serve. She should be commended for that. I should say that there has been raised a question concerning whether she meets the requirements to hold this office and to represent California, given that apparently she is a registered voter in Maryland. I trust that the Senate, which is responsible for judging the qualifications of its Members, is taking that inquiry seriously. I will say, however, that we need to, at this point, kind of pause to reflect on the fact that if Ms. Butler is sworn in, which I believe she is supposed to be sworn in today, California will now have two Senators who gained their office not by the authority of voters but, rather, by the whim of a single individual, Governor Gavin Newsom. We will have two Senators who gained their office via appointment. {time} 1100 We also, by the way, have a Senator from New Jersey whose own conference is calling on him to resign, which could create another appointed Senator in the United States Senate.…”