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As I See It

Congress’s age is showing

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The lawmakers we’ve sent to Washington are getting a little long in the tooth. Those in power in the nation’s capital have traditionally been a bunch of old white guys. There are more women serving in Congress, and more minorities. But they all just keep getting older. President Biden is 80. Former President Trump is 77. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had a scary moment when he seemed to freeze up when talking to reporters. The same thing happened a month ago, raising questions about his ability to effectively serve. The same is true of Senator Diane Feinstein who missed significant time for health reasons. Her mental acuity has been called into question. She is after all, 90 years old, the oldest member of Congress. But Iowa’s Chuck Grassley is about to turn 90 years old too. Bernie Sanders is no spring chicken, but in one week he will turn 88. And there are 11 members of Congress older than him. Their age is starting to show. We have minimum age requirements for our politicians. Maybe it is time for a maximum age requirement as well.

Scott Robert Shaw serves as WIZM Program Director and News Director, and delivers the morning news on WKTY, Z-93 and 95.7 The Rock. Scott has been at Mid-West Family La Crosse since 1989, and authors Wisconsin's only daily radio editorial, "As I See It" heard on WIZM each weekday morning and afternoon.

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4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Kent Porter

    September 1, 2023 at 10:59 am

    2 terms and out

  2. Bob N

    September 1, 2023 at 12:00 pm

    Has it occurred to you that these elected officials are getting old because they keep getting re-elected? It seems the people like what they are doing and keep rejecting challengers. That is the American way, you know.

  3. walden

    September 4, 2023 at 12:59 pm

    Too much money involved. Put in place anti-corruption measures that take away the economic incentive to hang around for decades and the problem will solve itself.

  4. Tom

    September 6, 2023 at 9:35 am

    Wow. Only when you see a Republican demonstrating assumed affects of aging did you bring it to light. Where were you when the rest of us have been watching Joe Biden, Diane Feinstein, and others over the last couple of years? The Capitol Doctor cleared McConnell. Where are the “all clears” for the Dems?

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