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• Democrat Dianne Feinstein is the senior Senator from California and the Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. She is the only woman to ever have served as mayor of San Francisco, California. In 2009, Feinstein replaced Senator John D. Rockefeller IV as head of the Senate Intelligence Committee.CBS News: Reid Reshuffles Committee Heads (December 15, 2008)

  In January 2009, Feinstein introduced legislation that would award $25 billion in taxpayer dollars to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Feinstein's husband's real estate firm was awarded a contract from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to sell foreclosed properties at a higher rate of compensation. Some have suggested that Feinstein's introduced legislation gives the appearance of a conflict of interest.Washington Times: Senator's husband's firm cashes in on crisis (April 21, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: June 22, 1933
  2. Elected to U.S. Senate in 1992
  3. Party: Democratic
  4. Estimated worth: $49-$110 million
  5. Spouse: Investment banker Richard Blum
  6. Religion: Jewish
  7. A superdelegate at the Democratic National Convention
  8. Announced her support for Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in the 2008 Election
  9. Supported Barack Obama after it was clear he would win the nomination
  10. Ran for mayor of San Francisco twice, but lost
  11. Took over as mayor of San Francisco in 1978 after former mayor George Moscone was assassinated

• Obama Inauguration

  Feinstein spoke at the beginning of the Inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009. She provided the call to order and the welcoming remarks for the audience. She is also the chair for the event.San Francisco Chronicle: Huge throng gathers in D.C. for Obama's inauguration (January 20, 2009)

• Mayor of San Francisco

  After serving on the California Women Parole Board and as the first female president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Feinstein unsuccessfully ran for mayor twice. After announcing the November 27, 1978 assassination of mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk to the public, Feinstein herself assumed the role of mayor and finished Moscone's term. She was re-elected in 1983. While serving as mayor, she proposed banning handguns throughout the city.

• Senate

  Feinstein won a special election to enter the Senate in 1992, filling the seat vacated when Pete Wilson became California's governor. Senator Barbara Boxer won her Senate seat as part of the same election, and the two became the only two female Jewish Senators. She was elected to a third term in 2006.

  Feinstein's and Patrick Leahy's support were crucial for the confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General, following the resignation of Alberto Gonzales in 2007.

• Thoughts on Panetta

  Feinstein was sharply critical of the Obama Administration's appointment of Leon Panetta to lead the CIA. She criticized the fact that he was, as she put it, a not an "intelligence professional," as well as the manner in which the announcement was made. Reportedly, Feinstein, although the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was not notified of the selection in advance of the public media announcement.Washington Post: Biden: Not Notifying Top Sens. on Panetta Choice a 'Mistake' (January 6, 2009) The Swamp: Panetta too inexperienced for CIA? (January 6, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Democratic Party | Barbara Boxer | Harry Reid | Hillary Rodham Clinton | Dick Cheney | George W. Bush | U.S. Senate

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