Chamber of Commerce

Major Business Coalition Blasts Health Care Reform In Major New Ad Campaign

Brian Beutler | November 12, 2009, 4:51PM

On the same day that the Business Roundtable had some kind (some not-so-kind) words for health care reform, a business umbrella group, which includes major players, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, has launched a major ad campaign opposing current health care legislation in Congress.

The ads come days after the House passed major health care legislation and as the Senate prepares to take up its own bill.

The first ad, which will air on national cable and in key health care swing states (Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia) warns about the reform proposals in general terms, and encourages people to call Congress in opposition to them.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, Health Care, House of Representatives

Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2009, 9:01AM

Gates: Don't Wait For Afghanistan Election To Be Resolved
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the United States should not wait for the Afghanistan election to be resolved before deciding on a strategy for the country -- putting him at odds with top White House officials. "We're not just going to sit on our hands, waiting for the outcome of this election and for the emergence of a government in Kabul," said Gates, also adding: "The outcome of the elections and the problems with the elections have complicated the situation for us. But the reality is, it's not going to be complicated one day and simple the next."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 10:40 a.m. ET with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. At 11:50 a.m. ET, he will honor recipients of the Presidential Unit Citation, honoring the 11th Armored Combat Regiment of the U.S. Army for service in the Vietnam War. Obama will meet at 1:10 p.m. ET with senior advisers, and depart the White House at 2:20 p.m. ET, arriving in New York City at 3:30 p.m. ET. Obama will tour the Joint Terrorism Task Force Headquarters at 4:15 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks to staff members at 4:30 p.m. ET. He will attend a 7:10 p.m. ET fundraiser for Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate in the NY-23 special election, and deliver remarks at 8:10 p.m. ET at a DNC fundraiser. He will depart from New York at 9:50 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 10:55 p.m. ET.

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Bill Owens, Chamber of Commerce, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Boehner, Medicare, NY-23, Robert Gates, Roundup, Valerie Jarrett

Climate Change

Business Leaders Plan D.C. Visit to Press Swift Action on Climate Change

Brian Beutler | October 5, 2009, 9:03AM

Executives from some of the nation's most powerful corporations will visit Washington, D.C. this week to press Congress to act swiftly on far-reaching climate change legislation.

The groups, working under the umbrella of the campaign We Can Lead, will meet Wednesday and Thursday for training sessions, briefings, and advocacy on the Hill in support of the House's Waxman-Markey climate change bill and similar legislation.

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Topics: Cap-and-Trade, Chamber of Commerce, Climate Change, Environment, Henry Waxman

Health Care

Chamber of Commerce Targets Public Option In Anti-Health Care Reform Ad Campaign

Brian Beutler | August 12, 2009, 10:10AM

Here's a new anti-health care reform ad from the Chamber of Commerce, going live today in 20 key states, which attacks the public option.

The ad also warns of "big tax increases, even on health benefits" though a tax health care benefits hasn't been officially proposed. The TV spot will be accompanied by a radio segment, which you can listen to here. And for more information on the cost of the buy, and the its likely targets, see The Plum Line.

For a bit of perspective, recall that though the Chamber has dedicated plenty of resources to attacking health care reform efforts, it's also explicitly commended the slow pace and watered down ideas coming out of the Senate Finance Committee.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, Health Care, Public Option, Senate Finance Committee

Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce to Congress: Go The Baucus Route

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2009, 1:00PM

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is asking the Congress to slow down the pace of health care negotiations, and to strip the public option and employer mandate provisions from various legislative proposals, according to a letter delivered today.

"The undersigned...wish to urge caution in addressing one of the most difficult problems facing our nation today - reforming the health care system," the letter reads.

The creation of a new government-run insurance plan is a step in the wrong direction. Employers currently suffer a significant cost-shift from existing public programs, and the program described in House legislation would significantly increase costs for every American who purchases private insurance. We do not believe that the government plan will be a fair competitor. Because of the increased costs and lack of competition caused by a government plan, employers will not be able to continue offering their current plans, which cover more than 170 million Americans.

We are further concerned with a proposal to mandate that employers either provide health insurance or pay huge fines or payroll taxes. This "pay or play" mandate is especially bad because employers are also required to pay the majority of employee premiums. Even with some exemptions, this provision will kill many jobs. Market forces and employer autonomy should determine what benefits employers provide, rather than Congress.

You can read the entire letter below the fold.
If there's something familiar to you about the idea of a health care plan without a public option, and without an employer mandate: congratulations. You've been paying attention.

That's basically the plan Max Baucus' Senate Finance Committee is set to propose--the sort of plan that a wellspring of progressivism like the Chamber of Commerce could get behind. And it should come as no surprise. Yesterday, the Chamber delivered a letter to the Finance Committee, praising its work, and taking swipes at the House's efforts.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, Health Care, Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee

Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Chamber To Launch Campaign Fighting Public Option

Rachel Slajda | July 21, 2009, 3:29PM

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will launch an anti-public option campaign tomorrow featuring print ads and Internet banner ads with the slogan, "Don't Drag Down Health Care Reform."

The campaign will also include local events throughout the August recess, according to a conference call this afternoon with Chamber officials. They're starting with five states -- Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Maine and North Carolina -- where they built up strong grassroots organizations during the 2008 election cycle.

The Chamber is aiming to boost support for House members and senators who have questioned the need for a public plan. The Chamber opposes a public plan, saying it would eventually put private insurers out of business. Its main concern is preserving the employer-supplied health care system and bringing down costs.

The organization does support an individual mandate, forbidding insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and guaranteeing that policies cannot be revoked. It also supports a nationwide marketplace so individuals could keep their policies if they move from state to state.

The August events will include independent rallies at town halls and other forums that members of Congress plan to hold during the recess.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, Health Care

Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Pre-Emptively Thanks Sen. Lincoln For Opposing EFCA; Republicans Call Foul

Brian Beutler | July 13, 2009, 4:21PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) isn't generally considered a friend of organized labor. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce may be trying to fence her in anyhow.

Lincoln has opposed EFCA in the past, and has said she could not support it now without significant concessions, and the Chamber--pleased with her position--seems to be trying to make a "no" vote on robust worker protections legislation a fait accompli. That's not how her Arkansas opponents see things, though. When he saw the ad, Arkansas Rep. Davy Carter--a one-time potential Lincoln opponent--took to twitter.

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Topics: Blanche Lincoln, Chamber of Commerce, EFCA

Health Care

Wal-Mart Signs On To Employer Mandate

Brian Beutler | July 1, 2009, 1:00PM

Despite being the largest member of the Chamber of Commerce, Wal-Mart isn't normally seen as a major obstacle to broader health care reform efforts. But their announcement yesterday was nonetheless surprising: They support a mandate that would require employers to provide insurance to their employees.

You can see their letter, co-signed by SEIU president Andy Stern and Center for American Progress president John Podesta here.

I've put out some calls on this, and hope to have more soon, but a few things to keep in mind.

1. Most of Wal-Mart's employees already have coverage of some kind--but that has a lot to do with Wal-Mart's ability to cherry pick employees who have outside coverage of some sort.
2. Wal-Mart could be jockeying for marginal advantage over their larger competitors. See here and here for how that might work. Whatever you (or Wal-Mart) think about the merits of the policy, that's shrewd business. And Wal-Mart is nothing if not shrewd about its business. Keep in mind that the Chamber of Commerce is still strongly opposed to this measure.
3. From the White House side of things, having Wal-Mart on board with health care reform could be a major boon to passing legislation. Keep in mind that Sen. Blanche Lincolnd (D-AR) is a Finance Committee member who opposes a public option

Those are some preliminary thoughts, but I'll be looking deeper into this development.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, Health Care

EFCA

Labor: Chamber Gearing Up For 2010 Senate Fight

Brian Beutler | June 10, 2009, 2:49PM

Josh already noted this at the Mother Ship this morning, but Politico ran today with a story about the Chamber of Commerce's plans to raise $100 million as part of a campaign to "defend the free market system."

Privately, labor sources describe the move as the Chamber's opening salvo in the committee's campaign to disrupt the balance of power in the Senate--which they view as hostile to business--in the 2010 election. And there's more than just messaging to that--the Chamber's president made that pretty clear.

A public education ad buy defending the free enterprise system is in the works, as well as an issue advocacy program tied to the 2010 midterm elections.

"We're going to hold politicians accountable as we defend and advance economic freedom," [Chamber of Commerce President Tom] Donohue said.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, EFCA, Labor, SEIU

EFCA

3100 Companies, Including Wal-Mart, Sign Letter To Congress Opposing EFCA

Brian Beutler | May 14, 2009, 5:51PM

Over 3000 members of the nearly three million-member strong Chamber of Commerce have sent a letter (PDF) to Congress expressing "strong opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act."

EFCA has three provisions, each of which we oppose. The first provision would require union recognition based on authorization cards signed by a majority of employees. This provision would allow organizing to be conducted in secret, would effectively eliminate the secret ballot election, and would hinder or even eliminate an employer's ability to tell its side of the story and correct misleading union rhetoric. Card check recognition also would effectively disenfranchise employees who oppose unionization and, as courts have repeatedly recognized, is inherently less reliable than traditional election processes for determining whether employees wish to have union representation.

The second provision would enable a union seeking a first contract to require the
employer to enter into binding interest arbitration if a collective bargaining agreement were not reached within as little as 130 days....

The third provision would significantly increase penalties on employers for certain
violations of labor laws.

That's just about every provision of the bill.

On the one hand, 3100 signatories represents a very, very small percentage of the Chamber's members. On the other hand, there are a lot of big names on this list, including General Electric and, crucially, Wal-Mart. And there's little doubt that the business community is pulling out all the stops on EFCA.

On the third hand, the letter itself runs one page, and the list of signatories goes on for 30 more. And that strikes me as a huge waste of paper.

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Topics: Chamber of Commerce, EFCA