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thisfinecrewNomination of Linda E. McMahon to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration
When: Tuesday 24 January from 10.00am
Committee Members: (as at 20 Jan) Chairman: Senator James E. Risch (R – ID), Senator Marco Rubio (R – FL), Senator Rand Paul (R – KY), Senator Tim Scott (R – SC), Senator Joni Ernst (R - IA), Senator James M. Inhofe (R – OK), Senator Todd Young (R - IN), Senator Michael B. Enzi (R – WY), Senator Mike Rounds (R – SD), Senator John Kennedy (R – LA), Ranking Member: Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D – NH), Senator Maria Cantwell (D – WA), Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D – MD), Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D - ND), Senator Edward J. Markey (D – MA), Senator Cory A. Booker (D – NJ), Senator Christopher A. Coons (D - DE), Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D – HI), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D – IL),
What the committee should be concerned about: Linda McMahon is the co-founder, with her husband, of the pro-wrestling enterprise World Wrestling Entertainment, growing the company from a 13-person start-up to an international operation with more than 800 employees.
She has never held public office, although she twice ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. She and her husband have had business relationships with Trump stretching back to the 1990s; they have donated $5 million to the Trump Foundation, making them the charity's largest donors after Trump; and she has been one of Trump's largest campaign donors, contributing at least $6 million.
McMahon is also the co-founder and chief executive of Women’s Leadership LIVE, which supports women in business. She went on record in March 2016 as finding Trump's comments demeaning women to be "deplorable, objectionable absolutely" but went on to say she had "faith in Trump’s ability to run the country" and has continued to support him throughout the revelations later in the campaign.
The SBA, which has at least one office in every U.S. state, provides support to small businesses such as extending loans and making sure they get a percentage of federal contracts. Trump has said McMahon would be "a key player in his effort to generate stronger job growth and roll back federal regulations".
While McMahon undoubtedly has some understanding of what it can take to run and grow a small business, Representative Nydia M. Velázquez of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, is concerned she is another person chosen for a cabinet-level position who does not have policy knowledge. However, Democratic Senator Dick Blumenthal, who ran against her in 2010, has said he will probably vote for her as "a reasonable voice in Trump's economic team".
Suggested action:McMahon is a fairly weak candidate, lacking experience in making and implementing policy and probably with a fairly narrow perspective of how to achieve business success, as she only seems to have founded and grown one business (which was based on her husband's existing family business). She also appears to be the sort of woman who likes to view herself as promoting other women but is very quick to throw them under the bus when her personal friendships or own interests are threatened.
However, Senator Blumenthal, who probably knows her quite well from Connecticut political and business circles, seems to think she is more realistic and moderate in her economic outlook than most of Trump's picks (although I would expect her to be on board with Trump's efforts to reduce regulation). I didn't see any evidence that there's any strong reason to oppose her, so it's probably not worth calling about this one. But please let us know in comments if there are strong reasons the committee should reject the nomination.
Housekeeping note: This is the last of the confirmation hearings currently scheduled for the coming week, but I'm sure more will be added for later in the week. Especially as Trump has apparently only nominated 28 out of 690 posts that require senate confirmation. Enjoy this article about why that's so damn scary….
When: Tuesday 24 January from 10.00am
Committee Members: (as at 20 Jan) Chairman: Senator James E. Risch (R – ID), Senator Marco Rubio (R – FL), Senator Rand Paul (R – KY), Senator Tim Scott (R – SC), Senator Joni Ernst (R - IA), Senator James M. Inhofe (R – OK), Senator Todd Young (R - IN), Senator Michael B. Enzi (R – WY), Senator Mike Rounds (R – SD), Senator John Kennedy (R – LA), Ranking Member: Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D – NH), Senator Maria Cantwell (D – WA), Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D – MD), Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D - ND), Senator Edward J. Markey (D – MA), Senator Cory A. Booker (D – NJ), Senator Christopher A. Coons (D - DE), Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D – HI), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D – IL),
What the committee should be concerned about: Linda McMahon is the co-founder, with her husband, of the pro-wrestling enterprise World Wrestling Entertainment, growing the company from a 13-person start-up to an international operation with more than 800 employees.
She has never held public office, although she twice ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. She and her husband have had business relationships with Trump stretching back to the 1990s; they have donated $5 million to the Trump Foundation, making them the charity's largest donors after Trump; and she has been one of Trump's largest campaign donors, contributing at least $6 million.
McMahon is also the co-founder and chief executive of Women’s Leadership LIVE, which supports women in business. She went on record in March 2016 as finding Trump's comments demeaning women to be "deplorable, objectionable absolutely" but went on to say she had "faith in Trump’s ability to run the country" and has continued to support him throughout the revelations later in the campaign.
The SBA, which has at least one office in every U.S. state, provides support to small businesses such as extending loans and making sure they get a percentage of federal contracts. Trump has said McMahon would be "a key player in his effort to generate stronger job growth and roll back federal regulations".
While McMahon undoubtedly has some understanding of what it can take to run and grow a small business, Representative Nydia M. Velázquez of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, is concerned she is another person chosen for a cabinet-level position who does not have policy knowledge. However, Democratic Senator Dick Blumenthal, who ran against her in 2010, has said he will probably vote for her as "a reasonable voice in Trump's economic team".
Suggested action:McMahon is a fairly weak candidate, lacking experience in making and implementing policy and probably with a fairly narrow perspective of how to achieve business success, as she only seems to have founded and grown one business (which was based on her husband's existing family business). She also appears to be the sort of woman who likes to view herself as promoting other women but is very quick to throw them under the bus when her personal friendships or own interests are threatened.
However, Senator Blumenthal, who probably knows her quite well from Connecticut political and business circles, seems to think she is more realistic and moderate in her economic outlook than most of Trump's picks (although I would expect her to be on board with Trump's efforts to reduce regulation). I didn't see any evidence that there's any strong reason to oppose her, so it's probably not worth calling about this one. But please let us know in comments if there are strong reasons the committee should reject the nomination.
Housekeeping note: This is the last of the confirmation hearings currently scheduled for the coming week, but I'm sure more will be added for later in the week. Especially as Trump has apparently only nominated 28 out of 690 posts that require senate confirmation. Enjoy this article about why that's so damn scary….
