United States Chamber of Commerce

United States Chamber of Commerce
United States Chamber of Commerce
US CoC Logo.png
Founder(s) Charles Nagel
Type Advocacy group
Founded 1912
Location Washington D.C.
Key people Tom J. Donohue President
Area served United States industry
Focus Business advocacy
Method Media attention, direct-appeal campaigns
Political lobbying
Motto Fighting for your business
Website uschamber.com

The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) is an American lobbying group representing the interests of many businesses and trade associations. It is not an agency of the United States government.

The Chamber is staffed with policy specialists, lobbyists and lawyers. Politically, the Chamber is generally considered to be a conservative organization. It usually supports Republican political candidates, though it has occasionally supported conservative Democrats.[1] [2] The Chamber is one of the largest lobbying groups in the U.S., spending more money than any other lobbying organization on a yearly basis.[3][4]

Contents

History

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's own history of itself describes it as originating from an April 22, 1912 meeting of delegates.[5] The Chamber was created by President Taft as a counterbalance to the labor movement of the time.[2]

The Chamber generally tries to maintain amicable relationships with both parties. For instance, the Chamber supported both Ronald Reagan's tax cuts and Bill Clinton's NAFTA efforts. In 1993 the Chamber lost several members over its support for Clinton's healthcare reform efforts. The Chamber had chosen to support healthcare reform at that time due to the spiraling healthcare costs experienced by its members. However, House Republicans retaliated by urging boycotts of the organization. The Chamber operated its own cable television station, Biz-Net until 1997 in order to promote its policies. The Chamber shifted somewhat more to the right when Tom Donahue became head of the organization in 1997. By the time health care reform became a major issue again in 2010, the organization opposed such efforts.[2]

More than 90 years later, the Chamber claims a direct membership of 300,000 businesses, and 3 million through its various affiliates such as state and local chambers.[6] Some of the Chamber’s members and donors are Goldman Sachs, Chevron, Texaco, and Aegon.[7]

The US Chamber is different from local and state chambers of commerce located in many cities, towns and states nationwide. The US Chamber focuses on national issues on the federal government level. Local and state chambers of commerce are independently started and operated organizations. Local chambers focus on local issues, and state chambers on state issues.[8]

United States Chamber of Commerce building at 1615 H Street, NW in Washington, D.C. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Washington, DC headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce occupies land that was formerly the home of Daniel Webster.[9]

On the issues

The Chamber's positions include:

  • Supports corporate globalization/free trade and outsourcing[10]
  • Opposes financial regulation[2]
  • Opposes the DISCLOSE Act, which aims to limit foreign influence on U.S. elections[11]
  • Opposes healthcare reform and the Affordable Health Care for America Act[2] The Chamber recognizes that health care reform is necessary, but disagrees that the Affordable Health Care for American Act is the answer. Market based solutions and action to curtail frivolous and predatory lawsuits would help to reduce the costs of health care.
  • Opposes action on climate change The Chamber recognizes that climate change is real. The question is how much of it is driven by mankind and what, if anything can be done about it. The Chamber wants a reasoned approach to this issue that takes into account the economic impact of climate decisions. [12][13]
  • Supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [2]
  • Neutral on social questions such as abortion and gay marriage
  • Campaigned against portions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.[14]
  • Argued a case all the way to the Supreme Court opposing mandatory immigration status checks by employers in Arizona [15]
  • Supported corporate personhood and allowing corporations to spend unlimited sums on electioneering via an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United v FEC. Its position is opposed by some advocates for independent businesses [16]

Lobbying

The Chamber has emerged as the largest lobbying organization in America. It spent $91.7 million on lobbying in 2008, and $144.5 million in 2009, up from $18.7 million in 2000. The Chamber's lobbying expenditures in 2009 were five times as high as the next highest spender: Exxon Mobil, at $27.4 million.[17] The Chamber had more than 150 lobbyists from 25 different firms working on its behalf in 2009. The major issues that it advocated on were in the categories of torts, government issues, finance, banking and taxes.

International network

As of October 2010, the Chamber had a worldwide network of 115 American Chamber of Commerce affiliates located in 108 countries.[18] The US Chamber says that a “relative handful” of the Chamber’s 300,000 members are “non-U.S.-based (foreign) companies.” It adds that, “No foreign money is used to fund political activities.” A US Chamber executive has said that the organization has had “foreign multinationals” (foreign companies) as members for “over a century, many for decades.”[19] The US Chamber states that it receives approximately $100,000 annually in membership dues from its foreign affiliates.[20]

Electoral activities

In the 2008 election cycle, aggressive ads paid for by the USCC attacked a number of Democratic congressional candidates (such as Minnesota's DFL Senate candidate Al Franken) and supported a number of Republican candidates including John Sununu, Gordon Smith, Roger Wicker, Saxby Chambliss and Elizabeth Dole.

During the 2010 campaign cycle, the Chamber spent $32 million, 93 percent of which was to help Republican candidates.[21] The Chamber's spending out of its general funds was criticized as illegal under campaign finance laws.[22][23][24][25] In a front-page article titled "Large Donations Aid U.S. Chamber in Election Drive", The New York Times reported that the Chamber used contributions in campaigns without separating foreign and domestic contributions. This is illegal because foreign nations and groups are not allowed to monetarily lobby in the U.S. In question was the Chamber's international branches, “AmChams”, whose funds are unaccounted for and perhaps mix into the general collection.[23][26][27][28] All branches, corporations, and members of the Chamber pay dues; the question is how they divide the money for expenses in national campaigns.

The truth of these allegations is unknown, as neither the Chamber nor its detractors can provide any concrete evidence to support or refute the allegations.[29] In reference to the matter, Tom Donohue wrote his council and members on October 12, 2010. He stated, “Let me be clear. The Chamber does not use any foreign money to fund voter education activities—period. We have strict financial controls in place to ensure this. The funds we receive from American Chambers of Commerce abroad, bilateral business councils, and non-U.S. based global companies represent a small fraction of our more than $200 million annual revenues. Under our accounting system, these revenues are never used to support any political activities. We are in full compliance with all laws and regulations.”[30][31][32] Organizations Moveon.org, Think Progress, and People for the American Way rallied against the Chamber at the Justice Department to start an injunction for a criminal investigation.[33][34] As of yet, the Justice Department has not taken any inquiries as a serious legal threat. The Chamber is not required to produce records of its coffers or fundraising.[35]

President Barack Obama and other legislators asked the IRS and Federal Elections Commission to ensure that the foreign funds that the Chamber receives are not used for political activities.[36][37] Obama criticized the Chamber for not disclosing its contributors.[38] The Chamber has responded that “No foreign money is used to fund political activities.” [19] After the election, the Chamber reiterated the nature of Obama's policy dictated action from the Chamber, however the conflict would not be made "personal".[39][40]

In addition to the expenditures from the Chamber's own funds, in 2010 its political action committee gave $29,000 (89 percent) to Republican candidates and $3,500 (11 percent) to Democratic candidates.[41] The Chamber's PAC received a total of 76 donations from individual donors ($200 or more donation) totaling $79,852 in 2007-2008, or an average of three donations per month.[42]

Controversies

In April 2009, the Chamber began an ad campaign against the proposed Employee Free Choice Act.[43] Critics such as the National Association of Manufacturers have contended that additional use of card check elections will lead to overt coercion on the part of union organizers. Opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act also claim, referring to perceived lack of access to a secret ballot, that the measure would not protect employee privacy. For this reason the Chamber argued the act would reduce workers' rights.[44]

The Chamber threatened to sue the Environmental Protection Agency in order to have a hearing on climate science before any federal climate regulation is passed in October 2009.[12] In response to this position, several companies quit the Chamber, including Exelon Corp, PG&E Corp, PNM Resources, and Apple Inc.[13] Nike, Inc has decided to resign from their board of directors position but to continue their membership. Nike stated that they believe they can better influence the policy by being part of the conversation.[45] In response to an online campaign of Prius owners organized by Moveon.org, Toyota has stated that it is not leaving the Chamber.[46]

Peter Darbee, CEO of former chamber member PG&E (a utility company in California), said, “I'm struck by the irony that, as we try to restore public trust in business on the one hand, on the other the Chamber's behavior on the climate issue only reinforces stereotypes that erode that very same confidence." Hilary Rosen, former CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America added, "Their aggressive ways are out of step with a new generation of business leadership who are looking for more cooperative relationship with Washington.”

It has been reported that the Chamber has falsely inflated the number of members, claiming that it has 3 million members versus actual membership of 300,000.[47] The Chamber says this is a "misunderstanding of the U.S. Chamber's structure", as the membership of the US Chamber of Commerce is 300,000, but the membership of all of its regional affiliates combined is 3 million.[6]

In November 2009, the Chamber was reported to be seeking to spend $50,000 to hire a "respected economist" to produce a study that could be used to portray health-care legislation as a job killer and threat to the nation's economy.[48]

In December 2009, activist group Velvet Revolution, under the name StopTheChamber, posted a $200,000 reward for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donahue".[49]

In 2010 the U.S. Chamber created a page on their web site to respond to controversies that arise.[50]

Affiliate organizations

  • National Chamber Foundation [2]
  • Institute for 21st Century Energy [3]
  • Americans for Transportation Mobility [4]
  • Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) [5]
  • Institute for Legal Reform (ILR)[6]
  • Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)[7]
  • Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW)[8]
  • Essential Worker Immigration Coalition [9]
  • National Chamber Litigation Center [10]
  • Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness [11]
  • TradeRoots [12]

See also

Plato-raphael.jpg Political science portal

References

  1. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/08/news/la-pn-chamber-ads-20101009
  2. ^ a b c d e f Once again, the Chamber recognizes that reform is necessary, but is opposed to the heavy handed approach of the Dodd/Frank legislation that was passed. This legislation has had a negative impact on the availability of money for making loans.Verini, James (1912-04-12). ""Show Him the Money" by James Verini (July, 2010)". Washington Monthly. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2010/1007.verini.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  3. ^ "Top lobbyists in the US". http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.php. Retrieved 7.8.2009. 
  4. ^ Allen, Jonathan (2009-10-20). "U.S. Chamber: $34.7 million in lobbying". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28471.html. 
  5. ^ "U.S. Chamber of Commerce website, "History"". Uschamber.com. http://www.uschamber.com/about/history. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  6. ^ a b "Propaganda and Pearlstein". http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/10/propaganda-and-pearlstein-.html. Retrieved 10.22.2009. 
  7. ^ Lipton, Eric; McIntire, Mike; NATTA Jr, DON VAN (22 Oct 2010). "Top Companies Aid Chamber of Commerce in Policy Fights". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/us/politics/22chamber.html. 
  8. ^ US Chamber, FAQ, accessed Oct 23 2010, http://www.uschamber.com/about/faqs
  9. ^ "U.S. Chamber of Commerce website, "History of the building"". Uschamber.com. http://www.uschamber.com/about/history/building-history. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  10. ^ ""Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce on outsourcing and offshoring" (2007) Interview conducted and hosted by". Ventureoutsource.com. http://www.ventureoutsource.com/contract-manufacturing/executive-interviews/2007/tom-donohue-u-s-chamber-of-commerce-on-outsourcing-and-offshoring. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  11. ^ Montopoli, Brian (26 July 2010). "Obama Slams GOP For Opposing DISCLOSE Act Meant to Expose "Shadow Groups" Behind Ads". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20011683-503544.html. 
  12. ^ a b Tankersley, Jim (25 August 2009). "U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks trial on global warming". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/25/nation/na-climate-trial25. Retrieved 13 December 2010. 
  13. ^ a b Gardner, Timothy (5 October 2009). "Apple, citing climate, tells U.S. Chamber iQuit". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0519277320091005. Retrieved 13 December 2010. 
  14. ^ Henry, David (17 January 2005). "Death, Taxes, & Sarbanes-Oxley?". Business Week. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_03/b3916031_mz011.htm. 
  15. ^ Mears, Bill (26 May 2011). "Supreme Court backs Arizona immigration law that punishes businesses". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/26/scotus.arizona.law/index.html?hpt=T2. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
  16. ^ Independent Business Advocates Condemn U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in Citizens United.
  17. ^ Los Angeles Times, 8 March 2010, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce grows into a political force": accessed 9 March 2010.
  18. ^ Politifact, St. Petersburg Times, Oct 11 2010, President Barack Obama says foreign funds received by the US Chamber may be helping to fund attack ads, http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/oct/11/barack-obama/president-barack-obama-says-foreign-money-coming-u/
  19. ^ a b ABC News, Chamber of Commerce The White House Wants Our Donor List, http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/10/chamber-of-commerce-the-white-house-wants-our-donor-lists-so-its-allies-can-intimidate-our-donors.html
  20. ^ Abdullah, Halimah (12 October 2010). "Democratic Partisans Up in Arms Against US Chamber Donations". Kansas City Star. http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/12/2306100/democratic-partisans-up-in-arms.html. Retrieved 26 October 2010. [dead link]
  21. ^ Murray, Matthew (November 12, 2010). "Chamber Watch: Business Group ‘Central’ to GOP Gains". Roll Call. http://www.rollcall.com/news/-200473-1.html. Retrieved 2011-02-05. 
  22. ^ Chamber of Commerce under fire for foreign cash, Politico
  23. ^ a b http://www.mrc.org/timeswatch/articles/2010/20101022094333.aspx
  24. ^ http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/13/chamber-foreign-funded-media/
  25. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vote-2010-foreign-money-us-chamber-commerce-ads/story?id=11853117&page=1
  26. ^ Eggen, Dan (8 October 2010). "Chamber and Democrats battle over the midterms and election spending". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/08/AR2010100804145.html. 
  27. ^ http://www.cnbc.com/id/39794648/Top_Corporations_Aid_U_S_Chamber_of_Commerce_Campaign
  28. ^ http://reason.com/blog/2010/10/22/nyt-shocker-chamber-of-commerc
  29. ^ "The Chamber and Foreign Contributors". Factcheck.org. http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/the-chamber-and-foreign-contributions/. Retrieved 13 December 2010. 
  30. ^ The New York Times, http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/chamber-vows-to-ramp-up-political-activity/?scp=5&sq=chamber%20of%20commerce&st=cse
  31. ^ http://www.ocala.com/article/20101028/OBIZ/101029696?p=2&tc=pg
  32. ^ http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Chamber_We_have_a_system.html?showall
  33. ^ http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/05/foreign-chamber-commerce/
  34. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/07/chamber-of-commerce-watchdog-groups-rally_n_754674.html
  35. ^ Lipton, Eric; McIntire, Mike; NATTA Jr, DON VAN (21 October 2010). "Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber of Commerce Campaign". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/us/politics/22chamber.html?scp=6&sq=u.s.+chamber+of+commerce&st=nyt. 
  36. ^ The Wall Street Journal, "Rift between Obama and Chamber of Commerce widening," http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101902176.html
  37. ^ Obama's Risky Fight Against the Chamber of Commerce, http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2025368,00.html
  38. ^ New York Times,Obama to Meet With Executives, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12obama.html?src=twrhp
  39. ^ Real Clear Politics, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2010/Nov/17/donohue__us_chamber_won_t_seek_obama_s_defeat.html, "Donohue: US Chamber won't seek Obama's defeat"
  40. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/the-white-house-and-the-c_n_784737.html
  41. ^ "Center for Responsive Politics, US Chamber of Commerce summary". Opensecrets.org. http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00082040. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  42. ^ "Center for Responsive Politics, 31Oct 2009". Opensecrets.org. http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2008&strID=C00082040. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  43. ^ [1]
  44. ^ "Issue Alert: CARD_CHECK". Bipac.net. http://www.bipac.net/issue_alert.asp?g=NAM&issue=Card_Check&parent=NAM. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  45. ^ (Nike) "Nike US Chamber Statement", 30 September 2009: accessed 6 October 2009.
  46. ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne (26 October 2009). "Toyota: We're staying in US chamber of commerce". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/26/toyota-chamber-climate-bill. Retrieved 26 October 2010. 
  47. ^ "Chamber Rejects Use of Term "3 Million Members"". Mother Jones. 2009-10-23. http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/10/chamber-backs-smaller-membership-number. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  48. ^ Shear, Michael D. (16 November 2009). "Opponents of health-care effort look to fund a critical economic study". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111503159.html. Retrieved 26 May 2010. 
  49. ^ Activist Group Puts Bounty on Chamber of Commerce CEO, Fox News
  50. ^ "Myths and Facts". USChamber.com. 12 October 2010. http://www.uschamber.com/facts. Retrieved 30 June 2011. 

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