Wednesday, June 10, 2009 11:49 AM
US Chamber Says: No More Mr. Nice Guy
UPDATE @ 12:20 PM. The Politico says this campaign has been budgeted at $100 million.
With sweeping health care and energy and labor initiatives being taken up on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has apparently decided it has little to gain by engaging with congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration and has decided instead to launch a broad-brush counter-offensive that Chamber President Tom Donohue calls "one of the most important and necessary initiatives in our 100 year-history."
The Chamber has yet to offer many specifics about its new Campaign for Free Enterprise, announced at a meeting of its board in Washington today, but says it will spend "tens of millions of dollars" on "a sustained-multi-year effort," including "highly visible" television and print advertising, mobilization of state and local affiliates and small business members.
"Everyone we have talked to thinks this is really important...that it must be done...that only the Chamber can do it right and effectively...that in an important way it brings us back to the bedrock cornerstone of this institution...to be the voice of free enterprise here and around the world," Donohue told his board.
The move, which a Chamber official said has been in the works for "months," comes at a pivotal moment: the Obama Administration and Democrats have benefited from the engagement of some business interests in advancing its global warming and health care initiatives, while other business groups are debating whether to trade engagement for outright opposition. Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have been stepping up pressure on business groups to become more outspoken in their opposition.
The Chamber has also invited business leaders to come to their offices on Friday to talk about a coordinated business strategy for the health care reform legislation on Capitol Hill.
At their board meeting today, the Chamber elected Robert S. Milligan, chairman of small animal and meat protein processing company, M.I. Industries, as its new chairman.
(Photo of Tom Donohue by Liz Lynch)
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Anthony
Sunday, July 3, 2011
We should not be fearful to aggressively lobby for our own business interests. I have been in public policy planning meetings where local, state and federal officials or staff were allowed to sit in on meetings-certainly curbs free and open discussion of our activities!! Maria CNA
Caroline James
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Chamber has invited business leaders to come to their offices on Friday to talk about a coordinated business strategy for the health care reform legislation on Capitol Hill. Redirect Virus
SANDY STRAIGHT
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Someone has to stand up for small businesses and the working people of America. The Obama administration and the Democratic party has turned a deaf ear and is bankrupting America with their wild reckless spending, the health care bill and cap and trade.
Small business and the American worker simply cannot pay any more taxes. We are in desperate need of jobs, not more fees and taxes.
We must stop Obama and the Democrats from completely destroying free enterprise and the American way of life.
Damian Palmares
Saturday, August 8, 2009
I agree. Enough is enough.
Al Wunsch
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I'm just an old retired guy but I cannot understand why the government takeover of the auto industry (GM/CHRY) has been met with a great silence by the business community. We must not be educating any traditional business people anymore. As a board or CEO type, I might accept a loan from the government but certainly would not entertain their takeover of the company - I'd go into bankruptsy or quit first. It's about time the business community educate the public on the constitution and demand that the gov follow it.
Thomas Byrd
Thursday, June 11, 2009
My question is, enough moaning, what can I do as a small business owner to make a difference? I'll agree that America is being degraded, but am not satisfied to just know the facts. There must be some course of action the silent majority can take to take America back!
Tom Byrd
Don Williams
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It is about time!! We also need to focus more on our local chambers of commerce. I have been involved with them for nearly forty years in four states. I have noticed a reluctance on the part of local chambers to be aggressive on taking on tough or contentious issues-the boards and exec's don't want to "rock the boat" for fear of losing membership dues!
We need to educate local chamber boards and executive directors about the role of chambers-it is just not to collect dues and propagate their existence. We should not be fearful to aggressively lobby for our own business interests. I have been in public policy planning meetings where local, state and federal officials or staff were allowed to sit in on meetings-certainly curbs free and open discussion of our activities!!
As they say-"all politics is local"-the Democrats understand that-I am not sure the Republicans do.
David Olney
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It is about time that someone stands up to this degeration of America. It is too bad that an elected official does not have nerve to what is in our country best interest. They just want kiss up, give away, and enslave the population. This what they think will keep them on the gravy train.