Is Dianne Feinstein too old for Congress?
Kimberly Ross
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Washington is full of old people, and it’s worth asking if elderly politicians are physically and cognitively capable of the demands of their job. Competency should be a concern for everyone, no matter a politician’s ideology, rank, or years served.
Since 1992, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has served in the upper chamber. On Feb. 14, Feinstein announced that she would retire at the end of her term. Since March, she has been recovering from shingles at her California home and has missed quite a number of votes. Feinstein is 89 years old. Her current situation has caused conflict on Capitol Hill and within the Democratic Party as her post on the Senate Judiciary Committee remains vacant.
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But Feinstein is not the only member of Congress pushing 90. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is 89, and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) is 84.
During a speech in February, former U.N. Ambassador and current 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley stated, “We won’t win the fight for the 21st century if we keep trusting politicians from the 20th century. In the America I see, the permanent politician will finally retire. We’ll have term limits for Congress … and mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old.”
Her words were aimed at President Joe Biden, who is 80, and former President Donald Trump, who is 76. Notably, the words were not well received by CNN host Don Lemon, who said on air, “This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime — sorry. When a woman is considered to be in her prime [is] in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” Lemon, who is actually older than Haley, ended up apologizing.
People take offense if anyone suggests competency tests for older politicians. But given the serious, sensitive nature of congressional or presidential work and the fact that these politicians represent thousands of people, it should be standard. No one is saying older candidates or politicians are incapable of fulfilling their duties. Putting a safeguard in place to protect both the person seeking or in office and those they represent would be beneficial to all.
The same can be said for physical requirements. Serving in office requires a certain amount of stamina. With age, health conditions can increase in number or get worse. There should be a realistic mental and physical baseline that politicians over 75 must meet.
According to the Constitution, a person must be 25 to be in the House of Representatives, 30 to be in the Senate, and 35 to be president. If there are age minimums, then it’s worth asking whether there should be age limits. Young adults may have health, but whether they are mentally and emotionally mature enough to lead is a legitimate concern. Just as legitimate is whether an older candidate or established politician is mentally and physically fit enough to fill a similar role.
Evaluations should only be done on a case-by-case basis. Grassley is the same age as Feinstein but seems to be in better overall health. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who suffered a stroke last year, is in worse condition. Conversely, Feinstein was older than Fetterman, almost 60, and healthy when she first came to Washington to serve. In other words, blanket statements about health and ability do no good.
Concerns about the age and health of politicians should also include compassion. That Feinstein is in questionable health with some cognitive decline doesn’t mean she should be treated as anything but a human being. The same goes for anyone, no matter which side of the political aisle they’re on.
Neither political party is eager to look at current or prospective politicians with a magnifying glass and determine whether they are fit for office. But it should be done. And politicians, whose entire job description is supposed to be in service of our country, should be willing to meet the standards. People of all political persuasions deserve it.
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Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.