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thisfinecrewNomination Hearing - Rex Wayne Tillerson
When: Wednesday 11 January from 9:15am
Committee Members: Chairman: Senator Bob Corker (R - TN), Senator James E. Risch (R - ID), Senator Marco Rubio (R - FL), Senator Ron Johnson (R - WI), Senator Jeff Flake (R - AZ), Senator Cory Gardner (R - CO), Senator Todd Young (R - IN), Senator John Barrasso (R - WY), Senator Johnny Isakson (R - GA), Senator Rob Portman (R - OH), Senator Rand Paul (R - KY), Ranking Member: Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D - MD), Senator Robert Menendez (D - NJ), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D - NH), Senator Christopher A. Coons (D - DE), Senator Tom Udall (D - NM), Senator Christopher Murphy (D - CT), Senator Tim Kaine (D - VA), Senator Edward J. Markey (D - MA), Senator Jeff Merkley (D - OR), Senator Cory A. Booker (D - NJ)
What the committee should be concerned about: There are concerns from Republicans as well as Democrats that Tillerson, currently CEO at Exxon Mobile, has business links in Russia and around 50 other countries, and a too-cosy relationship with Vladimir Putin and the Russian Government in general that will prevent him from acting in the U.S.'s best interests as Secretary of State.
Specifically, Russia awarded Tillerson its "Order of Friendship" in 2013, while Exxon Mobil has "billions of dollars in oil contracts that can go forward only if the United States lifts sanctions against Russia". Tillerson has been publicly skeptical of the value of economic sanctions such as those imposed against Russia after the invasion of the Ukraine.
To allay concerns, Tillerson has agreed to step down from his role as CEO at Exxon Mobile if he becomes Secretary of State (with a very substantial payoff), sell his Exxon Mobile shares and put all his money in a blind trust which will only invest in Treasury securities and diversified mutual funds.
Tillerson also has no experience in the public sector, "a first in modern history for a potential secretary of state", having worked his entire life for Exxon Mobile.
Among the high-profile Replicans who have challenged the selection are Senator John McCain (R - AZ) and Senator Marco Rubio (R - FL) (Rubio is on the committee).
Suggested script for calling representatives:
[Remove the text in square brackets if you would like a shorter version that just focuses on Tillerson's Russian links.]
"Hi, my name is ________, and I'm a constituent of the Senator. I want to let the Senator know that I object to Rex Tillerson as our next Secretary of State because of his strong business links to Russia, and his close relationship with Vladimir Putin and other members of the Russian government. [I am also concerned by his lack of public sector experience.] I know these concerns are shared by Republican as well as Democratic members of Congress, including Senators McCain and Rubio. I believe Mr Tillerson's personal and business relationships to date [, and lack of understanding of the difference between conducting international business and international diplomacy,] will prevent him from acting in the U.S.'s best interests, and that he should therefore not be our next Secretary of State.
Please use the comments to suggest more reasons why the committee should reject the nomination and to suggest amendments to the calling script.
When: Wednesday 11 January from 9:15am
Committee Members: Chairman: Senator Bob Corker (R - TN), Senator James E. Risch (R - ID), Senator Marco Rubio (R - FL), Senator Ron Johnson (R - WI), Senator Jeff Flake (R - AZ), Senator Cory Gardner (R - CO), Senator Todd Young (R - IN), Senator John Barrasso (R - WY), Senator Johnny Isakson (R - GA), Senator Rob Portman (R - OH), Senator Rand Paul (R - KY), Ranking Member: Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D - MD), Senator Robert Menendez (D - NJ), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D - NH), Senator Christopher A. Coons (D - DE), Senator Tom Udall (D - NM), Senator Christopher Murphy (D - CT), Senator Tim Kaine (D - VA), Senator Edward J. Markey (D - MA), Senator Jeff Merkley (D - OR), Senator Cory A. Booker (D - NJ)
What the committee should be concerned about: There are concerns from Republicans as well as Democrats that Tillerson, currently CEO at Exxon Mobile, has business links in Russia and around 50 other countries, and a too-cosy relationship with Vladimir Putin and the Russian Government in general that will prevent him from acting in the U.S.'s best interests as Secretary of State.
Specifically, Russia awarded Tillerson its "Order of Friendship" in 2013, while Exxon Mobil has "billions of dollars in oil contracts that can go forward only if the United States lifts sanctions against Russia". Tillerson has been publicly skeptical of the value of economic sanctions such as those imposed against Russia after the invasion of the Ukraine.
To allay concerns, Tillerson has agreed to step down from his role as CEO at Exxon Mobile if he becomes Secretary of State (with a very substantial payoff), sell his Exxon Mobile shares and put all his money in a blind trust which will only invest in Treasury securities and diversified mutual funds.
Tillerson also has no experience in the public sector, "a first in modern history for a potential secretary of state", having worked his entire life for Exxon Mobile.
Among the high-profile Replicans who have challenged the selection are Senator John McCain (R - AZ) and Senator Marco Rubio (R - FL) (Rubio is on the committee).
Suggested script for calling representatives:
[Remove the text in square brackets if you would like a shorter version that just focuses on Tillerson's Russian links.]
"Hi, my name is ________, and I'm a constituent of the Senator. I want to let the Senator know that I object to Rex Tillerson as our next Secretary of State because of his strong business links to Russia, and his close relationship with Vladimir Putin and other members of the Russian government. [I am also concerned by his lack of public sector experience.] I know these concerns are shared by Republican as well as Democratic members of Congress, including Senators McCain and Rubio. I believe Mr Tillerson's personal and business relationships to date [, and lack of understanding of the difference between conducting international business and international diplomacy,] will prevent him from acting in the U.S.'s best interests, and that he should therefore not be our next Secretary of State.
Please use the comments to suggest more reasons why the committee should reject the nomination and to suggest amendments to the calling script.
no subject
Date: 2017-01-09 06:19 pm (UTC)ETA: I have made the call, and wound up fumbling what I meant to say, but think I got in the key points, and his staffer said that he would let the senator know and wished me a good day.
In case it's of use to anyone, here's my shortened script, leaving:
Hi, my name is $yourname, and I live in $town. I want to let Senator $theirname know that I object to Rex Tillerson as our next Secretary of State because of his strong business links to Russia, and his close relationship with Vladimir Putin and other members of the Russian government. I believe Mr Tillerson's personal and business relationships to date, and lack of understanding of the difference between conducting international business and international diplomacy, will prevent him from acting in America’s best interests, so he should not be our next Secretary of State.
no subject
Date: 2017-01-09 06:50 pm (UTC)Thanks also for posting your script. The ones I'm putting up are definitely meant as a starting point for people to change if they want -- it just usually easier to adapt an existing text than figure out what to put on a completely blank page!