Haley makes an example of Feinstein in push for mental competency tests
Ryan King
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Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley joined a handful of Democrats in calling on Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to resign in a renewed push for mental competency tests for politicians 75 and older.
Haley’s pitch comes as many Republicans have breathed a sigh of relief, as the senator’s prolonged absence has frustrated the confirmation of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees.
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“She’s missed months of votes and clearly can no longer do her job. I agree with several congressional Democrats who say Feinstein should resign immediately and let someone else who is able to do the job take over. At 89 years old, she is a prime example of why we need mental competency tests for politicians,” Haley wrote in an op-ed.
Democrats have splintered over how to handle Feinstein, who has been out since February after contracting shingles. Some, such as Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), candidly called on her to step down, while others have danced around it, hopeful she will return soon. Feinstein announced earlier this year that she will not seek reelection.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appeared to imply that those calls were motivated by sexism, noting, “I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way.”
Her comment appeared to allude to Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who was out for clinical depression treatment from February to the middle of last month.
“Sorry @SpeakerPelosi: @SenFeinstein should resign. And that’s not sexist. We need competency tests for all politicians 75+. Americans deserve to know if Joe Biden is up for the job or if a vote for Biden is really a vote for Kamala Harris,” Haley tweeted.
https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley/status/1653005471274475521?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Last week, following Biden’s 2024 campaign launch, Haley quipped, “The idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely.”
She cited the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test as an example of a test that could be implemented to root out politicians in cognitive decline.
Bowing to pressure, Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) last month to name a substitute for her on the Senate Judiciary Committee so that Biden’s nominees could continue going through. But Republicans in the Senate have rallied in opposition to that.
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With Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) at the helm of the Golden State, a Democrat will very likely be named to replace her if she were to resign.
Prior to Feinstein’s absence, Democrats were wildly successful at pushing through their picks for the judiciary.