“Ms. Tanden is well-qualified to lead OMB and brings an established track record of engagement with the business community,” Jack Howard wrote on behalf of the nation’s largest lobbying group. “Ms. Tanden has proven a frequent partner and collaborator, particularly on international trade issues. Her willingness to consider different perspectives will be important as she shapes the budget and policy proposals for the Biden Administration.”
Neera Tanden speaks at The Queen theater, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.
deleted more than 1,000 tweets in November because “I regretted my tone” and that “nobody advised me at all” to scrub the social media account of harsh comments ahead of her nomination.
a comment the nominee has since deleted that called Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) “the worst.”
Tanden acknowledged the distinction between her job as head of the liberal think tank and the position Biden has nominated her to fill as one of the nation’s top public servants.
“At school, I remember being the only kid in the cafeteria line who used ten-cent vouchers from the Free Lunch Program,” she said. “Within just a few years, my mother found a job, and a few years later she was earning a middle class salary. Soon, she was able to buy a home, and eventually see her children off to college and beyond. I spend every day of my life grateful for a nation, and a government, that had faith in my mother and in me — that invested in our humanity and gave me a fair shot to pursue my potential.“
Updated: 02/09/2021 11:43 AM EST
While saying she does agree “that corporate special interests have too much power in our discourse,” Tanden defended CAP’s funding and stressed that the think tank has received grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the charity founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan. “I will always uphold the highest ethical standards,” she said.
“Over the last few years, it’s been part of my role to be an impassioned advocate. I understand, though, that the role of OMB Director calls for bipartisan action, as well as a nonpartisan adherence to facts and evidence,” she testified in prepared remarks. “I would vigorously enforce my ironclad belief that our government should serve all Americans — regardless of party — in every corner of the country.“
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sought to pin Tanden on Wall Street and Silicon Valley funding sources for the Center for American Progress, the liberal think tank she heads as president and CEO.
It is OMB that is tasked with making many of the “budgetary choices that reflected our nation’s values,” making possible her path in life, Tanden testified.
Democrats have highlighted the outside groups that are advocating for Tanden’s confirmation. In a statement to the committee ahead of the confirmation hearing, the Chamber of Commerce’s top liaison to Congress said the group supports her confirmation and that “while we may not always agree with Ms. Tanden, we anticipate that she will have an open door and an open mind as Director.”
“I would just say again, to the extent that people are hurt by my language, I deeply apologize,” Tanden said.
By CAITLIN EMMA
The tweets have “added to the troubling trend of more incivility and division in our public life,” said Portman, who served as OMB director under former President George W. Bush. Portman asked Tanden how she plans to “mend fences” with Republicans.
Tanden will also appear before the Budget Committee on Wednesday morning. Both panels must approve her nomination before Senate leaders can schedule a floor vote.