Democratic Rep. Matsui dies

This is terrible news. While it is not a complete surprise, it is a very unfortunate turn of events. We will greatly miss Rep. Matsui, and we salute his years of public services and his commitment to the Democratic Party.

The Sacramento Bee has the details:

U.S. Rep. Robert T. Matsui, a Sacramento native and Democratic leader who had represented the region in Congress since 1979, died Saturday night in Washington, D.C., after being hospitalized last week for pneumonia. He was 63.

Matsui, who was re-elected to his 14th term in November with 71 percent of the vote, died at the Bethesda Naval Hospital at 10:10 p.m. while surrounded by his family, according to a statement his office issued earlier today.

Matsui was one of the most prominent and senior Democrats in the Congress, and was elected two years ago to head the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which seeks to elect Democrats to the House.

Rest in peace. We shall not forget you or what you have done for our country. And we will carry on the fight against the privatization of Social Security as you were so willing to do.