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Yet Another Political First

Posted by Bryan Bender December 18, 2008 03:22 PM

By Bryan Bender
GLOBE STAFF

WASHINGTON _ It has been a year of political firsts. The first African-American to be elected president. The first female vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket.

Now, we can now add another to the list: for the first time, two female lawmakers, one from each major party, will lead a full committee in Congress.

Democrat Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine are slated to serve as chairwoman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Small Business Committee when the 111th Congress convenes in January, it was announced today.

"Senator Snowe and I have a great working relationship," Landrieu said in a statement. “I look forward to working with her to strengthen the Small Business Administration into an agency that can be a real champion for American small businesses – the backbone of our economy.”

Snowe said the duo will focus special attention on helping women and minorities. “We are also in a great position to promote opportunities for women- and minority-owned small businesses," she said.

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