Feinstein ‘Easily’ Fends Off Campbell
Incumbent Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) won re-election yesterday, "easily" defeating challenger Rep. Tom Campbell (R) by a 57% to 37% margin, the Sacramento Bee reports. After retaining her seat, Feinstein indicated that some of her major priorities during her second full term as senator would include protecting Social Security and Medicare and developing a prescription drug program to make medications more affordable for seniors (Sacramento Bee, 11/7). Feinstein supports a voluntary prescription drug benefit funded by the non-Social Security surplus (California Healthline, 11/7). She predicted that any prescription drug plan that passes Congress will need to combine elements of both Vice President Al Gore's and Texas Gov. George W. Bush's (R) plans. Feinstein is opposed to providing a prescription drug benefit for seniors with incomes above $100,000, wanting instead to "place" a "premium ... on getting help to those who need it most first" (Bunis, Orange County Register, 11/8). Feinstein also supports the Norwood-Dingell patients' bill of rights (H.R. 2723), advocates expanding access for Medicaid and SCHIP and favors a program that would extend CHIP coverage to parents of children enrolled in the program (California Healthline, 11/7). Hampered by a broken leg and a Senate that still has unfinished business, Feinstein had made "limited campaign appearances." In the last two weeks of the campaign, Feinstein began airing an "upbeat" television commercial stressing her position on various issues, including HMO reform (Scripps-McClatchy/San Francisco Examiner, 11/7). To view the ad, go to
http://video.cloakroom.com/2000archive/11/1102dfca1.rm. Note: You will need RealPlayer G2 to view the ad.