In a story that probably isn't great public relations for the business community, the Washington Post reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and others have been seeking to collect $50,000 to fund a study that would find the Senate health care reform legislation hurts the economy and will result in lost jobs.

In an e-mail obtained by the Post, a U.S. Chamber employee says the funds would first be used to hire a respected economist to study the legislation.

"Step two, according to the e-mail, appears to assume the outcome of the economic review: "The economist will then circulate a sign-on letter to hundreds of other economists saying that the bill will kill jobs and hurt the economy. We will then be able to use this open letter to produce advertisements, and as a powerful lobbying and grass-roots document."