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demmiblue

(36,743 posts)
Tue May 15, 2018, 10:41 AM May 2018

Trump Nominates McConnell and Chao's Brother-In-Law to Lead Pension Agency

Source: Bloomberg

President Donald Trump nominated Gordon Hartogensis, a self-described entrepreneur who is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao’s brother-in-law, to lead the federal agency that pays worker pensions when employers terminate their retirement plans.

Hartogensis helps govern his family’s trust and is the CEO of Auric Technology, a closely held software company, according to his LinkedIn page. In making the announcement, the White House did not provide biographical information about him or answer questions about his relationship to Chao and McConnell, who are married. Hartogensis is married to one of Chao’s sisters, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Email and phone messages left for Hartogensis at Auric were not returned.

If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace the current director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Tom Reeder, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2015.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-15/trump-nominates-mcconnell-brother-in-law-to-lead-pension-agency?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_medium=social&cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business

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Trump Nominates McConnell and Chao's Brother-In-Law to Lead Pension Agency (Original Post) demmiblue May 2018 OP
Oh my JohnnyRingo May 2018 #1
Seems unqualified for the position, so a perfect pick for the Trump administration Freethinker65 May 2018 #2
Auric Industries? MGKrebs May 2018 #3
Trump is coming after our pensions! Thanks a lot (not) Trumpster base. nt NCjack May 2018 #4
This clown will rip off the Trump base. lagomorph777 May 2018 #6
Corruption running wild ! duforsure May 2018 #5
so your grandparents will end up living on your couch or sleeping with the fishes yurbud May 2018 #7
Oh shit. The PBGC pays my pension. trof May 2018 #8
Who's the Head of the White House Nepotism Office? MineralMan May 2018 #9
McConnell Brother-in-Law Gets Pension Agency Nomination Hearing mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2018 #10

JohnnyRingo

(18,581 posts)
1. Oh my
Tue May 15, 2018, 10:57 AM
May 2018

The potential for disaster is great on this one. If he's corrupt- and Trump nominated him for some reason- it would put a boat load of cash Trump and McConnell's fingertips. As a GM retiree I counted on this fund when the company filed for bankruptcy, something republicans protested.

This is a blue collar fund now overseen by people who consider it wasted money to union workers. Do the math on that.

Freethinker65

(9,929 posts)
2. Seems unqualified for the position, so a perfect pick for the Trump administration
Tue May 15, 2018, 11:30 AM
May 2018

I am sure he will be able to mismanage and destroy his agency as effectively as Ms. DeVos, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Pruitt have done to theirs.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)
7. so your grandparents will end up living on your couch or sleeping with the fishes
Tue May 15, 2018, 08:51 PM
May 2018

while a Trump crony collects their checks.

mahatmakanejeeves

(56,886 posts)
10. McConnell Brother-in-Law Gets Pension Agency Nomination Hearing
Tue Sep 25, 2018, 12:23 PM
Sep 2018

Updating this thread:

McConnell Brother-in-Law Gets Pension Agency Nomination Hearing

Posted Sept. 21, 2018, 11:12 AM

President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace the current director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will be considered by the Senate Finance Committee Sept. 27.

Trump nominated Gordon Hartogensis four months ago to head the PBGC, the agency that insurers corporate and union pension plans. The nomination kicked up controversy as Hartogensis is married to the sister of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Hartogensis lists his current occupation as trustee of the Hartogensis Family Trust on his LinkedIn profile and is a former CEO and co-founder of Texas-based information technology company Auric Technology LLC.

Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) announced the hearing Sept. 21. If confirmed, Hartogensis would replace current PBGC Director W. Thomas Reeder Jr., who has held the post for the past three years. The post as head of PBGC is a five-year position.

To contact the reporter on this story: Madison Alder in Washington at malder@bloomberglaw.com
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