Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Money
  • Election 2020
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Money
    Election 2020
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Unlike other Trump picks, McMahon sails through confirmation hearing

  • Politics
  • by Ana Radelat
  • January 24, 2017
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Ana Radelat :: CTMirror.org

Linda McMahon after her confirmation hearing

Washington – Introduced by the two senators who crushed her political hopes in Connecticut, Linda McMahon on Tuesday sailed through a confirmation hearing, placing her a step closer to becoming the next head of the Small Business Administration.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, who both ran against McMahon to win their seats in the Senate, praised McMahon, the founder with her husband Vincent of the World Wrestling Federation, now the WWE, as a savvy businesswoman who would bring good policy and judgment to the Trump administration.

At her hearing before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Murphy introduced McMahon as “a fellow Nutmegger.”

“This visual is going to be a little amusing and surprising to folks in Connecticut, who saw the three of us duke it out during two long Senate campaigns, but politics can’t work if political grudges never die,” Murphy said.

Blumenthal said McMahon, who spent $50 million on each of her self-funded Senate races, is known as “a very generous contributor to many charitable, philanthropic and educational causes” in Connecticut, including Sacred Heart University, where the nominee sits on the board.

“I think she will be an excellent fit for this agency,” Blumenthal said.

A member of the Trump cabinet “billionaire’s club,” McMahon contributed about $6 million to a political action committee supporting Trump.

The Small Business Administration backs loans to qualified businesses that have had trouble getting credit at commercial banks. It has priority programs for women, minorities and the disabled.

The cordial treatment of McMahon by both Republicans and Democrats on the panel was in stark contrast with the tough grilling of most of the other nominees President Donald Trump has picked to fill out his Cabinet.

Some Democrats, including Sen. Heidi Heitcamp, D-N.D., actually gushed. Heitcamp said she had looked at McMahon’s daughter, when the nominee spoke of some of the challenges she had faced in establishing the WWE. “I wish you could have turned around and seen the pride and affection on your daughter’s face,” Heitcamp said. “My mother’s heart was warmed by that affection.”

U.S. Senate video feed

Sen. Richard Blumenthal introducing McMahon.

Many Democrats invited McMahon to visit their states as SBA administrator, an indication that they believed her confirmation by the full Senate was a fait accompli.

“We have a great beach community who I hope you’ll come visit,”said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Del.

One of the toughest questions came from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the highest-ranking Democrat on the panel, who asked McMahon if she backed a GOP plan to fold the SBA into the Commerce Department.

McMahon said during her last campaign for Senate she was a “strong advocate for reducing duplicative programs.” But she said she was only “focused on the concept” of reducing federal programs and agencies, and never said the SBA should not be an independent agency.

“I am a firm believer that the SBA should remain a stand-alone agency,” McMahon said.

U.S. Senate video feed

Sen. Chris Murphy introducing McMahon.

She also said she was grateful Trump decided to keep the SBA’s cabinet status. President Obama had elevated the agency to cabinet status.

McMahon repeatedly responded to questions by recounting anecdotes about what she learned about the needs of small businesses during her Senate campaigns.

“I learned there wasn’t so much a shortage of jobs, as people who were trained for those jobs,’ she said.

She also told the panel that she and her husband Vincent struggled in the early days of building their wrestling empire, so much so that the $12-a-month rental of a typewriter posed a financial hardship.

“I remember the early days when every month I had to decide whether I should continue to lease that typewriter or buy it,” she said.

She also told the panel that she and her husband once declared bankruptcy and lost their home.

“I know what it’s like to take a hit,” she said.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, asked if she would support and protect special SBA programs for women. “I definitely want to be a strong advocate for women…” McMahon replied.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N. J., asked if McMahon would lift the cap off a certain small business loan program. McMahon said she will investigate whether the loans “are being made effectively,” and if they are, whe’d consider lifting the cap.

Mostly she assured the panel she is an enthusiastic candidate for the job.

“I’ve always been a defender of the little guy,” McMahon said. “We need someone who can go to bat for our small businesses, and I’m just the girl to do that.”

The Small Business Committee plans to vote on her confirmation next week.

“If Dick and I are supporting her, I think she’ll get Democratic votes,” Murphy said.

Blumenthal said the reason he’s supporting McMahon is that the Trump administration “needs someone who is sane and has experience in job creation.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Radelat Ana has written about politics and policy in Washington, D.C.. for Gannett, Thompson Reuters and UPI. She was a special correspondent for the Miami Herald, and a regular contributor to The New York TImes, Advertising Age and several other publications. She has also worked in broadcast journalism, for CNN and several local NPR stations. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Legislative leaders support extension of Lamont’s emergency powers during COVID
by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

The governor's emergency powers expire Feb. 9 unless he asks lawmakers for an extension within 72 hours of that date.

Sunday in Hartford: Massive show of police, not protesters
by Mark Pazniokas and Dave Altimari

Reporters outnumbered protesters. Cops outnumbered everyone. Sunday at the Connecticut Capitol was peaceful and well-documented.

‘No one took us seriously:’ Black cops warned about racist Capitol Police officers for years
by Joshua Kaplan and Joaquin Sapien | ProPublica

While many officers were filmed fighting off Capitol rioters, at least 12 others are under investigation for possibly assisting them.

Donald Trump built a national debt so big (even before the pandemic) that it’ll weigh down the economy for years
by Allan Sloan and Cezary Podkul | ProPublica

The national debt has risen by almost $7.8 trillion during President Trump’s time in office.

Connecticut’s $90M lobbying industry has a new player: former Speaker Joe Aresimowicz
by Mark Pazniokas

Former House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz is becoming a lobbyist, but a revolving-door law limits him for a year.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The change in leadership must not lead to complacency
by Jenna Van Donselaar

We are beginning 2021, and most people are far done with election talk. Sure, the polls are closed, and the results are in, and it is time to move on. I am weary from the hours I spent texting voters this fall, and I’d like to think all my efforts were worth it. But the work is far from done.

Opinion Treason is in the air
by David Holahan

Abraham Lincoln had been elected but had yet to assume the presidency when southern states started seceding from the Union in the months before his March 4, 1961 inauguration. Four others would follow that spring. American soldiers —like Robert E. Lee, who had taken an oath of loyalty to the nation that he had served since 1825— defected to the Confederacy. By joining the rebellion Lee and fellow travellers became, in effect, traitors.

Opinion Trump’s reaction to defeat further confirms urgency for school focus on social emotional skills 
by Sandra M. Chafouleas 

Imagine what would happen if a preschooler didn’t “use their words” when they got upset about sharing, instead stomping around yelling while adults simply observed in silence. Think about what the school climate would feel like if a student punched another during recess while others watched without seeking help.  Now consider the actions – and inactions – by Trump Jan. 6 as the electoral vote counts occurred at the U.S. Capitol.

Opinion Is Trump leading a cult?
by Elena Sada

My experience as a former cult member and researcher in the field of Social Sciences earned me the ability to identify narcissism and cultish tendencies. Furthermore, as a former  New York City resident who kept abreast of interviews with the city’s apparent “movers and shakers,” I often questioned Trump’s qualifications as a leader, let alone as national presidential leader.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO