The US Chamber in the news - October 2

Outside money pours into Senate races
"Having a pro-business majority in the House and Senate will help economic growth," said Scott Reed, a strategist with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is advertising in nine close Senate races. It plans to spend $50 million on presidential and congressional elections by Nov. 6.  [USA Today]

US Chamber puts millions into effort to boost GOP congressional candidates
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has spent tens of millions of dollars on television ads to help boost Republican congressional candidates, launched an extensive effort on Monday to mobilize voters. [InForum]

Occupy D.C. celebrates one-year anniversary with K Street protest
Occupy D.C. threw itself a one-year birthday party Monday, and to celebrate, protesters vowed to “storm” K Street — the symbolic heart of the nation’s lobbying industry. As they marched, protesters carried signs in primary colors that said “Shut Down K Street.” They sang “Happy Birthday” to their movement. They unfurled a huge, hand-painted “Occupy D.C.” banner in front of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. [Washington Post]

Chamber of Commerce says health care "public option" idea was "wildly unpopular"
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is running this TV ad in Wisconsin against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin. "Are you listening," Tammy?
That’s the question posed in new campaign ad portraying Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin as indifferent to constituent pleas about Medicare.
In the spot, funded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an actress posing as Baldwin eagerly deletes phone messages from regular folks calling her office line.  [Politifact.com]

Pushing Forward With Paid Leave, Workplace Flexibility for All
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other big business interests have fought vigorously against these policies, but regardless of their opposition, two states now have paid leave laws -- California and New Jersey.  [Huffington Post]

Bay Area target for Chamber of Commerce ads
Voters in the East Bay and South Bay: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is coming to a television screen near you. As part of its nationwide "voter education project," the chamber is spending about $3 million on 10 California congressional races, all, coincidentally, aimed at defeating members of the same political party. [San Francisco Chronicle]

U.S. Chamber of Commerce funds attack ad against Alan Lowenthal
A television attack ad is hitting the 47th Congressional District airwaves that bashes state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, by accusing him of supporting business-unfriendly legislation. The 30-second spot is funded with a $320,000 so-called independent expenditure by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has backed Lowenthal's Republican opponent, Long Beach Councilman Gary DeLong, the owner of a telecommunications consulting firm. According to the Federal Election Commission, the buy was made Sept. 28.  [Contra Costa Times]

Following closely the DCCC pronouncements of who they're backing
The US Chamber of Commerce is pouring millions of dollars of dark right-wing cash-- and illegal money from China-- into California races... but just the DCCC races. According to Reid Wilson, here's where the Chamber is spending their money… [Down With Tyranny Blog]

Advocacy groups step up for Baldwin
If elected to the U.S. Senate, Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Madison would be the nation’s first openly gay senator. As a result, lobbying groups with interests in line with hers are contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to support her campaign…The majority of Thompson’s financial support has come from business interests and he received a handful of assistance during his tough primary race. The Club for Growth Action has spent more than $1.6 million on the Wisconsin senate race, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent more than $1.5 million in ads against Baldwin. According to Open Secrets, more than $4.5 million has been spent against the Thompson campaign, and $2.6 million against the Baldwin campaign.
 [Post Crescent]

Whistle-Blower Lawyers Throw Support Behind Obama
Lawyers in the tight circle who specialize in filing fraud claims with the federal government on behalf of clients with evidence of wrongdoing have raised more than $3 million so far for President Obama…The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents many of the companies that have been targets of the whistle-blower investigations, has criticized the lawyers' efforts, particularly their aggressive outreach for potential clients. “If someone is defrauding the federal government or investors, they should have the book thrown at them,” said Matt Webb, senior vice president for legal reform policy at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. “But increasingly, this is not just about exposing wrongdoing. It is about trying to generate as much money and fees for the firms handling the cases.”  [The New York Times]

Campaign Ad 2012: Sponsored By U.S. Chamber Of Commerce – Video [Washington Post]

U.S. Chamber holds a Cybersecurity Summit
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) holds a Cybersecurity Summit, including topics on "how the public and private sectors can transform information-sharing processes to improve cybersecurity, what actions the business community is taking to protect its systems from cyber threats and a range of international issues."
DATE: October 4, 2012 8:30 am. [US Chamber]