Tracking the Chamber

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Guide Issued By Justice Department, Securities Commission
Federal prosecutors and financial regulators on Wednesday reasserted their intention to enforce the law that bans the bribery of foreign officials by U.S. companies, despite a clamorous campaign by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups to relax the rules.  [Huffington Post]

Failure of cybersecurity bill opens door for White House action
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) lamented the outcome of the vote, saying action on cybersecurity is dead until next year. "Whatever we do for this bill, it's not enough for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," Reid said. "So everyone should understand cybersecurity is dead for this Congress. What an unfortunate thing, but that's the way it is." [The Hill]

Cybersecurity Act Faces Headwinds from K Street More...

As 'fiscal cliff' nears, business groups jostle for ear of White House, Congress
In addition, West said any deal that would end the George W. Bush-era tax cuts would result in a stern response from her members, which include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of small businesses. The Chamber is planning to submit a letter to all members of Congress on behalf of another broad coalition that will emphasize the need for entitlement reform. Using data from the Congressional Budget Office and the agency that runs Social Security, the letter will make the case that the “nation’s entitlement programs are unsustainable,” said R. Bruce Josten, a Chamber executive vice president.  [Washington Post]

Labor Leaders Have Obama’s Back, and Are Ready to Help More...

Business Groups Get Top U.S. Court Hearing on Arbitration
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from American Express Co. (AXP) in a clash with retailers over the credit cards they must accept, a case that may reinforce millions of arbitration agreements. A federal appeals court in New York let the merchants press their antitrust claims as a group even though they had agreed to pursue disputes individually before an arbitrator. Business trade groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce say that ruling undermines a 2011 Supreme Court decision letting companies use arbitration accords to block employees and consumers from pressing claims as a group.  [Business Week]

The Pulse: Brace for havoc of a cyberattack
Last summer, a group of Senate Republicans cited the objections of business interests, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as they blocked a cybersecurity bill championed by the White House and national security officials. [Philadelphia Inquirer]
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SEC nixes Big Oil, US Chamber push to delay disclosure rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rejected industry groups’ request to freeze mandates that force oil and mining companies to disclose payments to foreign governments. The American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups had urged the SEC to stay the requirements while the groups’ litigation against the rules plays out.  [The Hill]

Election over, K Street ready to cash in
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, whose organization already spends more on federally reportable lobbying efforts than any other entity, said Wednesday that Congress “must act” and strike a “big deal” by year’s end to avoid sailing over the fiscal cliff. “The Chamber will employ all the assets of our policy experts, lobbying team and grassroots federation to help Congress and the administration meet this critical responsibility,” Donohue said.  [Politico]

Lobbyists Eager for Short-Term Fiscal Deal More...

For Chamber of Commerce, election was a money-loser
The day after an election in which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent millions of dollars backing losing Republican candidates, executives began the brutal process of assessing what went wrong at the nation's leading business organization. [Washington Post]

The Final Tally: Big Polluters' Big Ad Spending In The 2012 Elections
These groups—which include Restore Our Future, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Energy Alliance, Americans for Prosperity, Crossroads GPS, and several more—bet big and lost big.  [ThinkProgress]

Republican strategist Karl Rove's very bad night
Only 5 percent of the money spent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce resulted in its desired effect, as measured by the Sunlight Foundation. [Chicago Tribune]

Money Burned More...

Outside Groups Spent Big, but the Impact Isn't Clear-Cut
In Ohio, incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, one of the leading liberal voices in the Senate, faced an onslaught of television advertisements from pro-Republican groups. Two groups—American Crossroads and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—spent a total of more than $10 million against Mr. Brown. The incumbent Democrat prevailed because his own campaign raised more money than his Republican opponent. Mr. Brown raised $22 million for the race, while Republican Josh Mandel brought in $16 million, according to campaign finance records. [Wall Street Journal]

Republicans approach renewed control of House
Republican House candidates, the GOP and allies like Karl Rove's American Crossroads political committee and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent a combined $664 million on House races through October. [Huffington Post]   

Independent ex-Gov. King wins Maine US Senate race More...

Chamber tells Geithner to back off on money market funds
The nation's largest business lobby is calling on Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to abandon his efforts to push reforms to money market funds across the finish line. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce told Geithner Monday that his efforts to bring about an overhaul of that corner of the financial markets repeats the "flawed approach" originally taken by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  [The Hill]

Political contributions more difficult to trace after key US Supreme Court decisions
This campaign season, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $431,000 on television ads in late summer criticizing California government, perceived as a soft message against Gov. Jerry Brown's Proposition 30. The group was not required to disclose its donors.  [Sacramento Bee]   

Business, labor groups spent big in 2012 cycle on ad wars for Senate control More...

GOP pursues last chances to upend Senate Dems
First-term Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania wasn't on anyone's lineup of vulnerable Democrats six months ago, especially after Republicans nominated little-known businessman Tom Smith. But the coal executive spent more than $17 million of his own money and cut into Casey's edge. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce jumped in with money and ads in the final week. "I think a race that everyone here in Pennsylvania assumed was safe for Sen. Casey no longer is," said Gene Barr, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.  [Huffington Post]

Unprecedented outside money pours into Montana's US Senate race    More...