Tracking the Chamber

How can you tell that momentum is building for change?

Well, one good sign is that the opposition starts getting nervous about your progress.

That’s why we took it as a positive sign that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently stepped up attacks on shareholders who attempt to make companies disclose political spending.

Earlier this month, I attended an almost comical presentation at the U.S. Chamber headquarters where speakers spent most of a four hour event attacking political spending disclosure resolutions as being bad for business.

I say ‘almost’ comical because, while much of the information is laughably wrong, the subject matter is far too important to joke about.

There are a number of things wrong with what I heard at this event, but I’d like to focus on two disturbing claims in particular.

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Green for All: New Strategic Partnership with Small Business Majority

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy recently released a report that confirmed a fact many small business groups already know to be true: small businesses are leading the nation’s economic recovery. Green For All is one of the groups that has seen this first-hand. We have worked for years to support small green businesses with the skills and resources needed to create new jobs while improving our environment. We know from experience that small businesses are America’s principal drivers on the road to economic recovery. It is these businesses that are, time and time again, the most capable at fostering local community resilience in times of economic hardship.

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce Rejects Ryan's Misogynistic Budget as an Economic Assault on Women and Women Businesses Owners

Today, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce ( http://www.uswcc.org ) calls on congressional leaders to reject the Ryan Budget as wrong for the future of America, and pledges to take the case to protect the economic future of women to every community.

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Law 360: Another Shot In The Dark At FCPA Reform

Timing is everything. Woody Allen said it best — 80 percent of life is just showing up. Unless you are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Talk about bad timing and sour grapes.

The chamber just does not get the message. After the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued their resource guide to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the chamber is still not satisfied. Whatever you may say about the FCPA guide, it did its job — it provided the most...

POLITICO: Club for Growth targets look to John Boehner for help

By JAKE SHERMAN and ANNA PALMER

Several House Republicans the Club for Growth has singled out for primary challenges are looking to Speaker John Boehner and GOP donors to keep them out of the fire.

A handful of lawmakers targeted by the Club’s Primary My Congressman campaign are slated to meet with Boehner next week to press him on anything the House GOP leadership can do inside and outside the Capitol to prevent the Republican-on-Republican skirmishes, several sources said.
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And several of the lawmakers, including prodigious fundraisers like Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock, are pushing corporate political action committees to give the maximum amount of money to their campaigns early in the cycle in order to show strength against potential GOP challengers. They’re also trying to secure early valuable endorsements from business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. More...

Knoxville News Sentinel: Committee OKs new restrictions on state workers' union
By Tom Humphrey

A bill putting new restrictions on the Tennessee State Employees Union — enough to disable or eliminate many of the organization’s functions, according to a TSEA official — won approval of the House State Government Committee on Wednesday.

The bill (House Bill 913) is being pushed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, who said it is intended to assure that state employee dues “do not go into political areas.”

Wall Street Journal: Panel Weighs Asbestos-Trust Rules
By Dionne Searcey

Bankruptcy trusts paying claims to sickened victims of companies that once made dangerous asbestos products aren't "limitless, bottomless pits of money," according to Rep. Blake Farenthold (R., Texas), who backs more scrutiny for their payment activities.

A House Judiciary subcommittee heard testimony Wednesday over a measure co-sponsored by Mr. Farenthold that aims to cut down on fraud by requiring the trusts to file quarterly reports with federal bankruptcy courts that would detail claimants' names and payment information.
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At the hearing were supporters and opponents of changes to asbestos litigation, such as an arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Association for Justice, which represents plaintiffs' attorneys who collect fees on trust-claim payouts. Also present were family members of people who had died from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma. More...

Associated Press: Labor board to appeal recess case to Supreme Court
By Sam Hananel

The National Labor Relations Board said Tuesday it plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a far-reaching decision that invalidated President Barack Obama's recess appointments to the agency.
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which helped bring the case challenging Obama's appointments on behalf of one of its members, said it welcomes the chance for a hearing before the Supreme Court. Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue called it "an important step toward resolving the tremendous uncertainty created by the controversial recess appointments."

The NLRB has insisted that it can continue to function pending appeal of the case. Some Republican lawmakers have called on the recess appointees to leave their posts.

Thomson Reuters: Study: SEC makes progress on economic analysis of rules
By Sarah Lynch

A study commissioned by a frequent critic of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission suggests that the agency is making progress in its efforts to analyze the impact its regulations have on companies and the economy.

The study, released on Tuesday, was commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and conducted by two law professors at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. It calls on other federal financial regulators, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to take cues from the SEC, which last year released new internal guidance on economic analysis. More...

OpenSecrets.org: Trans-Pacific Partnership Draws Attention From K Street

By Janie Boschma

While the 16th round of negotiations surrounding the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership wraps up in Singapore this week, K Street has plenty to say about the trade alliance and its terms at home.

One of Washington's top lobbying firms, Podesta Group, recently launched a new cross-border lobbying arm, Global Solutions, to expand its reach abroad. Chairman Tony Podesta said the new group will focus on influencing negotiations over two multilateral free trade agreements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and any other issues "at the intersection of trade, economics, politics and diplomacy."
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Through the end of 2012, 166 lobbying clients mentioned the TPP in their lobbying reports to the House and Senate since the partnership formed in 2010. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce seems to have the greatest interest in the partnership, mentioning it 42 times overall and at least 16 times in 2012 alone. The Chamber has focused particularly on protecting intellectual property rights in foreign trade, especially against online infringement and counterfeit goods.

Wall Street Journal: U.S. Money Funds, Investors Pan SEC's Floating-Value Format

By Katy Burne

Corporate executives say they will pull cash from money-market funds if regulators implement a proposal requiring that funds' share prices float. More...

The Hill: US Chamber, oil-and-gas lobby go grassroots in Keystone pipeline battle

By Zack Colman

Feeling comfortable after a recent, favorable State Department draft review of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, business groups are focusing efforts on the local level to solidify support for the project.
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will arm its extensive network of local chapters with material to beat back “misinformation” from Keystone opponents, Matt Letourneau, a spokesman with the Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy, told The Hill.

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. Chamber faces doubts in drive on proxy advisor use

Ros Kerber

BOSTON (Reuters) - One of the most powerful U.S. business groups is seeking support from mutual fund firms for proposals that could rein in the influence of proxy advisory firms, but it is meeting resistance from some money managers. More...

Have you been to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce yet? If not, get moving! Hop on a plane, bus, train or carpool your way down to Washington, D.C. for your chance to finally meet the secretive members of the nation's largest private lobbying group. The U.S. Chamber influences policy impacting your health, safety, welfare, and small business on behalf of their multi-national, corporate members.

This past Tuesday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced a Public Meeting to discuss their call for comments on "Promoting US EC Regulatory Compatibility” otherwise known as TAFTA or the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement. These proposed trade revisions touted in the President's State of the Union would roll back food safety, chemical, financial, and more stringent climate change regulations in Europe, taking the wind out of efforts by consumer advocacy groups and activists here in the U.S. to replicate and push for similar protections. You didn't get the invitation? That may be because this so-called "Public Meeting" is actually hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The convening is not taking place in ;Any-town, USA by your local town (or even city) Chamber. More...

Reuters: Senator: US Losing Ground to China on Africa Trade, Investment

A U.S. senator on Thursday called for early renewal of trade benefits for Africa as part of a broader strategy to counter growing Chinese investment and influence on the continent of nearly one billion people.
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The United States "probably has a small window in the next couple of years before China, India and Brazil take over all the ownership on the continent and trade relations are theirs to own,'' said Scott Eisner, vice president of African affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

ABC News:  Richard Trumka Unsure About Immigration Deal With Big Business

By Jordian Fabian

The leader of the nation's largest organized labor coalition is hopeful Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform, but said there is a chance labor and business groups may not come to a final agreement on the future flow of immigrant workers to the United States. More...

OpenSecrets Blog: Powerful Interests Oppose Strengthening of Disabilities Law

By Reid Davenport

When the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law almost 23 years ago, the idea of inclusion for people with disabilities was legally born. Ramps were built, infrastructure was redesigned and, for the first time, the law backed people with disabilities who demanded their right not to be blocked from physical access to facilities.
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Many lobbying clients that favor deregulation -- such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Hotel and Lodging Association -- simply have more money at their disposal than clients who favor more extensive ADA regulations. Since 2001, 119 organizations have filed 37 lobbying reports concerning 11 bills and a resolution that mentioned the ADA in their summaries, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. While lobbying disclosure reports don't require organizations to reveal their positions on bills they lobby, looking at the interests a group represents allows for an educated guess.

Los Angeles Times: Rejecting industry dogma, Costco backs calls to lift minimum wage

By Alen Samuels

NEW YORK -- For many businesses, opposing minimum wage increases is a no-brainer: Raising the minimum wage increases their expenses. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce steadfastly opposes the proposal, as do many businesses big and small.

But on Tuesday a handful of businesses applauded a bill introduced in Congress to raise the minimum wage, and even sent out a news release vocalizing their support for doing so. They included retailer Costco and smaller businesses such as British American Auto Care in Columbia, Md., and Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis, Mo. More...