Yesterday’s column by FR friend Dan Morain (it’s true, all of our "friends" are not fellow conservatives – don’t tell!) was a very heavy read. It centered around the declining mental health of State Senator Pat Wiggins. If you haven’t read Dan’s piece, you should take a few minutes right now to do so (it’s here.)
The very brief summary of Dan’s thoughtful and thought provoking piece — is that Senator Wiggins’ mental health has deteriorated to the point where she is largely absent — both from the Senate floor, as well as from Committee (Senate President Steinberg actually removed her from all Committees). At this point, Wiggins is led into the State Senate Chambers, to a spot away from the other Senators, where she can cast votes on issues when her vote is needed. Does she even know what she is voting for? Dan Morain couldn’t tell you — Wiggins is not available to the press. One of the major newspapers in her district has called for her retirement.
One cannot help but feel terrible for the Senator and for her family. It is hard to imagine anything more difficult than someone "slipping away" through mental illness. Very sad, indeed.
One must confront the pressing political question that is pierced in Morain’s piece — which is whether Wiggins continues to serve in the Senate for the express purpose of having her lead out of her offices and to the Senate chambers just to cast key votes, and whether she even possesses the faculties to know what is voting on, or not.
Politically, if she were to resign, it would likely mean that her Senate seat would remain empty until December, depriving Democrats of a critical vote.
At this point, my inclination is to say that because Wiggins occupies a public office, the details of her mental health are of public concern. An independent assessment by trained medical professionals, made public at least to the extent that it helps other Senators, her constituents, and Californians have a reassurance that she possesses the competence to fulfill her role as a State Senator, is totally appropriate and should be done — yesterday.
If she does, that is fabulous news (truly). But if she does not, how totally inappropriate would it be for her to be "used as some sort of prop" (for lack of a more artful phrase coming to mind, to be pulled out at key moments, then returned to her office?
Again, the situation is a sad a tragic one. But one that should be addressed right away.