FEINSTEIN FOR SENATE

The Capable Senator Deserves Another Term.

She's a San Francisco Democrat endorsed by cops throughout the state, a
self-described "city girl" endorsed by the Farm Bureau, the former mayor of
America's most liberal community for whom "tough on drugs" is a central
campaign theme. The Republican mayor of Los Angeles supports the former
Democratic mayor of San Francisco rather than her Republican congressman
opponent.

It's no surprise to find Sen. Dianne Feinstein entering the final weekend
of her fourth statewide campaign as a prohibitive, double-digit favorite
for re-election. Firmly positioned in the political middle on a wide range
of issues, she has earned her popular spot in the public eye.

Over the course of her public service, Feinstein has matured into a
responsive, centrist lawmaker with a growing legacy of service and
legislative leadership. Given the often-fractious nature of the state's
congressional delegation, she must often take the lead in shepherding
California interests through Washington, a role she plays with increasing
skill and influence.

Early in her Senate tenure, she cast a crucial vote supporting the budget
reconciliation act of 1993 that established federal spending discipline and
launched the country on the path to record prosperity. She remains an
important Senate vote for fiscal prudence on matters such as Social
Security, tax cuts and how to use projected surpluses.

As a moderate in a closely divided Senate, she has had success in working
across partisan aisles, and has her name on important legislation often
denied members of the minority party. Among the most noteworthy were
passage of the assault weapons ban, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of
many military-style weapons, and her role in the landmark CalFed water
process. She was a central figure in the agreement by which federal and
state governments teamed up to save the Headwaters redwoods from harvest.

Feinstein has been a good senator for California, and has carried important
legislation for the San Joaquin Valley, including working to increase
anti-drug funding to fight the methamphetamine problem in the region.

But we also would like to see her use her considerable clout to get the
much-needed federal courthouse proposed for downtown Fresno funded much
more quickly than the Clinton Administration or Congress now intends. The
senator said during an editorial board meeting with The Bee that she
understands the importance of the building to the region and will seek ways
to get it built sooner.

The Valley also has not received its fair share of federal resources in
many crucial areas, and Feinstein must be a fighter for the region when it
comes to devising the formulas that determine federal funding levels.

Medicare reimbursement rates for Valley health care providers, for example,
aren't nearly what they are in more populous areas of the state. That
inequity threatens health care in the Valley and must be fixed immediately.

We urge the senator to dedicate much of her next term to giving the Valley
the federal resources it needs to solve its many problems.

Overall, Dianne Feinstein has done a good job for California. She has been
improving her focus on constituent service and state concerns while also
playing a growing role as a bipartisan legislator who can pass bills and
win victories. She deserves re-election on Tuesday.