But women’s success should not make us complacent. Around the world, women still suffer gross injustices. Just this week, the Economist’s cover story cites the “gendercide” that has led to the abortion or killing of over 100 million women worldwide. Dana Perino wrote in Politico this morning on the medical and economic hardships women confront throughout Africa. It is my hope that the continued assistance coming from private organizations, like the ONE Campaign, will help to alleviate these problems.

Here at home, we still have work to do as well.  Starting a family can stall a woman’s career, and the attempt to balance work and family has caused women to receive reduced wages at a time when they need income to help raise their children. I confronted many of the same challenges early in my career that women face today. I managed to raise my two children and build a business. It was not an easy task. It can be nearly impossible to split time between the boardroom and the playroom, but every day millions of moms do it. Gender discrimination in America is not as much a problem as it once was, but we need to assure women the opportunity to raise a family while continuing their careers. This is important for improving family values and creating a wider talent pool in our economy.

The mail piece states incorrectly that Rob Simmons, as a Member of Congress, voted with ACORN “more often than Chris Dodd.” That is incorrect. The reality is that Sen. Chris Dodd voted with ACORN 100% of the time. Rob Simmons voted with ACORN more than 50% of the time.

The mail piece also makes the following points – all of which are true and come directly from ACORN’s own scorecard:

“Congressman Rob Simmons voted with ACORN more than half the time.”

“In his last term in office, Simmons voted with ACORN more than any other Republican in the House of Representatives, except one.”

“If elected, Congressman Simmons’ voting record with ACORN would make him the highest ranked, pro-ACORN Republican in the Senate.”

“In fact, Congressman Simmons voted with ACORN 56% of the time. More often than all but one of his Republican colleagues.”

“Even liberal Democrats like Senator Robert Byrd voted against ACORN more often than Congressman Simmons.”

I want to set the record straight because it’s important to me and this campaign, but most importantly to Linda, that the information our campaign disseminates be completely accurate. This standard was put in place by Linda on Day One, and because of this, when we make mistakes, we will own up to them and correct the record. That’s part of what it means to be ‘A Different Kind of Senator.’

Ed Patru
Communications Director
Linda McMahon for Senate 2010

Congress continues pushing policies that are creating a culture of uncertainty, and as a result, businesses are loath to make investments and hire new workers. Small businesses create 70 percent of new jobs, but record deficits, coupled with the impending threat of government-run health care, card check, cap-and-trade, and tax hikes to pay for wasteful spending have effectively paralyzed small businesses.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released today found that 84 percent of Americans think Congress has not done enough to create jobs, and only 14 percent said they are satisfied with lawmakers’ efforts so far.

Recovery depends on giving small businesses the opportunity to create jobs. We need to incentivize job creation through targeted tax cuts and tax credits. Washington’s approach has taken us in the wrong direction, and one year later, we have little to show for taxpayers’ investment.

Friday night, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Harwinton Republican Town Committee’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Yes, it was the birthday of our 16^th President, but it was also a day to celebrate and honor President Lincoln’s courageous leadership. Abraham Lincoln guided our country through one of the most tumultuous times in our history, and he did so by seeking to create a freer nation.

Today, we face far different challenges than those Lincoln faced, but we still need leadership in Washington that can act decisively to preserve our future. Congress’ out-of-control spending and misguided stimulus policies have put our children and grandchildren deep in debt. I explained to the Harwinton Republicans that we need to change the tide in Washington. We can’t spend our way out of debt or allow government to stand in the way of job growth. It’s time for bold leadership in Washington. We should look to Lincoln as an example.

To see a video of the event, click here.

This isn’t the first time Washington has hidden its intentions from us. Last year’s stimulus, cap-and-trade, and health care reform bills all remained hidden from the American people and even members of Congress until hours before the vote. These bills all had monumental price tags and either have been or would have been disastrous for the American economy.

Congress has an opportunity to pass a job creation plan through a transparent process that would incorporate the best ideas of Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Washington is trying to keep its plans secret until the last minute.  While we don’t know what they will ultimately release, we can only hope, at this point, they will not try to force through a second stimulus that will fruitlessly pump more money into government agencies rather than focusing on the small businesses that create 70 percent of new jobs. What we need is a bill that will decrease the tax burden on small businesses, reduce unnecessary regulation, and stem the vast expansion of government that has led to record deficits.

Congress needs to offer full transparency as it crafts legislation. The American people deserve no less.

New Cancer Center

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of touring St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. I saw the new cancer treatment center, named the Elizabeth Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care. The center is four stories tall, 125,000 square feet, and it officially opened to the public yesterday. The building, built to green standards, is designed to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, as well as provide survivorship services.

This expansion to the Medical Center includes an oncology center, relaxation and massage therapy suites, meditation areas, and a garden courtyard for infusion therapy. It’s obvious the people of St. Vincent’s took every measure to ensure patients have the best services available. 

Allowing all Americans access to top-of-the-line facilities is paramount.  We need to reform our health care system to allow small businesses and individuals to pool together to buy insurance, allow the purchase of insurance across state lines, and reform medical malpractice lawsuits to reduce costs and expand the quality medical care.

I strongly oppose holding the 9/11 terror trials in New Haven.  This is not only a potentially grave security threat that puts our state at risk, but it will also cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

If we hold terror trials in Connecticut, it will provide a public stage in our state for Khalid Sheik Mohammed to denigrate the United States and justify the 9/11 attacks.  The only acceptable venue is a military tribunal, where we can protect sensitive national security secrets and silence the deadly rhetoric of mass murderers.  

Now that these civilian terror trials pose a direct threat to our state, we can hope that Attorney General Blumenthal will finally take a stand against them.

One of the biggest movie box office hits of the last year was produced not in Hollywood, but in Greenwich. State economic development officials in Hartford must be cheering. “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” was the most popular animated film of 2009, as measured by ticket sales. … A year ago, Blue Sky was lured from its former home in White Plains, N.Y., to Greenwich by a very generous package of state incentives. The studio gets a 30 percent tax credit on its production costs. The state also gave it a $750,000 sales tax exemption as well as an $8 million loan on which no payments are due for five years. If the studio meets its job projections, $6 million of the loan will be forgiven. So far, Blue Sky’s move to Connecticut is working for it and for the state. When it arrived here, it had about 300 workers. It now has about 400 and is still hiring.

After the failed $787 billion “stimulus” bill, we need leaders who know how to incentivize small businesses, the engine of our economy, which create 70% of new jobs. The next senator from Connecticut needs to know how to put our people back to work.

Last Saturday, I met with folks at the historic Collin’s Diner in North Canaan. The 1940’s classic is warm, friendly and affordable. Run by the Hamze family for the past 40 years, it is all about the basics: good food, good company, good prices and good-old fashioned business sense (they only take cash, no credit cards).

In these days of Congress spending what we don’t have, I applaud the family’s decision. I only wish our elected officials would catch on and run the country like a business.

Some asked me about how Sen. Dodd dropping out of the U.S. Senate race and Attorney General Dick Blumenthal’s entry would change my campaign. I told them I don’t shy away from being the underdog and pointed out that the Attorney General represents more of the same kind of politics. Washington is a mess and only an outsider can change that. That’s why I’m running for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut.

The Greater Waterbury Olympian Club is about tradition, the strength to pursue excellence and the courage to never give up. The club recently honored a number of terrific athletes and coaches at their 39^th annual awards dinner. I was humbled to be there and meet some of the dedicated honorees including six distinguished coaches who were recognized and awarded for their positive influence on the athletes they affected over the years.

The club also honored fifteen scholar athletes from the Greater Waterbury Area. All of these remarkable students excelled in their prospective sport and took time to give back to their community by volunteering or mentoring. It truly was a night for the stars to shine.