New Chamber study seems to forget that its member companies shirk criminal sanctions

Posted by Dorry Samuels on August 13, 2012

So, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a new report on Friday finding that some state laws favor labor unions. The report highlights numerous exemptions from criminal statutes, such as from trespassing if committed in conjunction with a labor dispute, among other alleged examples of favoritism.

Interesting. You see, many of your member organizations have not only escaped punishment for violating state laws, they’ve also managed to skirt criminal sanctions for violating federal laws. You know what they say about glass houses, dear Chamber.

Let’s take a look at some of your member organizations, shall we?

BP so far has not faced criminal punishments for causing the biggest environmental disaster our country has ever seen, let alone for the 11 workers who died when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded.

Chevron faced no criminal sanctions after it inserted illegal surcharges, benefiting the former Iraqi government, when it bought Iraqi oil.

CVS faced no criminal penalties after it illegally sold and distributed large quantities of pseudoephedrine in California and Nevada. The customers planned to use the pseudoephedrine to make meth.

Google was not criminally punished after it allowed online pharmacy advertisers to place links promoting their prescription drugs, in clear violation of U.S. laws governing importation and dispensation of prescription drugs.

Shall I go on?

Here are some of your other member organizations who have shirked criminal sanctions, entering into "no-prosecution" or "deferred prosecution" deals with government prosecutors that enable them to escape pleaing guilty for acknowledged wrongdoing: GlaxoSmithKline, AIG, Gibson Guitar Corp., General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan, Merck & Co., Pfizer and Tyson Foods.

Glad that’s settled.

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