The U.S. Chamber in the News - October 24

Pharma Donations & The Chamber Of Commerce
Two years ago, the US Supreme Court issued its infamous Citizens United ruling that permits US companies to decide how to spend corporate funds to influence elections at the federal level. And the US Chamber of Commerce is reportedly doing its part with plans to donate as much as $100 million (see this).  [Pharmalot]

In “Conflict Minerals” Challenge, a Familiar Strategy
On Friday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable asked a federal appeals court “to [modify] or set aside”  rules requiring U.S.-listed companies to disclose whether their products contain minerals blamed for fueling violence in central Africa. Lawyers tracking the challenges say this one is likely to employ a strategy used by its predecessors: Ask for a delay while the court considers the challenge.
The same tactic has been employed successfully in challenges to other Dodd-Frank provisions. [Wall Street Journal]

K Street prepares for sequestration battle
A variety of interests on K Street have amassed their forces to stop the dreaded $1.2 trillion budget sequester, new lobbying disclosures reveal. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce — the biggest lobbying force in town — is among the groups calling for a reprieve. “We oppose sequestration because it cuts everything the same and we know that all spending is not created equal,” said Blair Latoff, a Chamber spokeswoman. “We think that the Congress and the administration ought to come up with a prioritization of appropriate cuts to replace sequestration. As we have stated in our letters, the real problem is entitlement spending, and until we address that issue we will not address the problem of deficits and debt.”  Latoff noted a number of letters the Chamber has sent to lawmakers warning of the perils of sequestration.  [The Hill]

Business, bank lobbies losing 2 key Senate races
With polls showing Democrats poised to keep control of the Senate, two likely victories for Democratic candidates in Massachusetts and Ohio could be particularly galling for the business and banking lobbies…. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has steered a sharply ideological course in recent years, sent out a brochure attacking Warren as “catastrophically anti-business.”  [MarketWatch]

GOP Tries ACORN-Like Voter Outreach Tactics In North Dakota
If Republicans had an acronym for their aggressive voter outreach in North Dakota's oil fields, it could be ACORN'D: Association of Conservative Oilworkers For a Republican North Dakota. According to federal election records, the Brighter Future Fund registered with the FEC in May of this year, listing as its treasurer Pat Finken, who runs Odney and was recently named a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's board of directors. Brighter Future's two field operatives also have Odney.com email addresses.  [Huffington Post]

Big Doings at the Chamber
In the nation's capital Wednesday for big doings at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Rudolph W. Giuliani and Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Attorneys General Douglas F. Gansler of Maryland, Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma and Luther Strange of Alabama, Delaware State Court chancellor Leo E. Strine Jr. and ace pollster Scott Rasmussen. The gents join host and Chamber President Thomas Donahue and Lisa Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, for just that: An annual legal reform summit that includes such intriguing topics as "litigation as a profit machine" plus the global reach of litigation, and federal regulatory and prosecution policies.  [Washington Times]

Shale natural gas is huge, says U.S. Chamber of Commerce study
A comprehensive new study co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy demonstrates that shale energy will create millions of jobs and trillions in investments over the coming decades.  [Ohio.com]