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{{#badges:AEX|CoalSwarm}}The '''U.S. Chamber of Commerce''', a powerful business [[pro-corporate trade group, is the largest lobbying]] group organization in the United States that "has become a fully functional part of the partisan [[Republican Party|Republican]] machine" since CEO , and president [[Thomas J. Donohue]] took office also works to influence policy in 1997many other countries. Prior to Donohue<ref name="chamber works globally"/> The Chamber describes itself as "the world's tenurelargest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, the Chamber "used to be a [[trade association]] that advocated in a bipartisan manner for narrowly tailored policies to benefit its membersand region." <refname="about">Matt StollerU.S. Chamber of Commerce, "[httphttps://www.mydduschamber.com/story/2006/12/13/14220about-us/862 "Tom Donahue, about-us-chamber About the 'Gang of 6' and Red America,"] ''MyDD'', December 13, 2006U.S.</ref> The Chamber's 2010 budget is approximately $200 million], but as a trade organization" organizational website, its donors can remain anonymousaccessed August 2015. <ref name= "NY Times Oct 22"></ref>
The Chamber Despite these claims on its website , the ''New York Times'' reported in October 2010 that its mission is half of the Chamber's $140 million in contributions in 2008 came from just 45 big-money donors, many of whom enlisted the Chamber's help to "advance human progress through an economic, fight political and social system based public opinion battles on individual freedomtheir behalf (such as opposing financial or healthcare reforms, incentiveor other regulations).<ref name= "NY Times Oct 22"> Eric Lipton, initiative, opportunityMike McIntire, and responsibilityDon Van Natta Jr."<ref>, [http://www.uschambernytimes.com/about2010/10/default About22/us/politics/22chamber.html Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber of Commerce Campaign],] USChamber.com''The New York Times'', October 21, 2010.</ref> It describes itself as The Chamber is "the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses dominated by [[oil industry|oil companies]], [[pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical giants]], automakers and organizations of every sizeother polluting industries, sector" according to [[James Carter]], and regionexecutive director of the [[Green Chamber of Commerce]]."<ref name="fibre">Tom Lochner, [http://www.fibre2fashioncontracostatimes.com/news/association-news/us-chamber/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=42835 "USA : ci_7247780 Chamber backs fight against internet piracy,hopes local promotion of green business produces national results"] U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Fibre2Fashion.com)''ContraCostaTimes'', October 1922, 2007.</ref>
Despite these claims, the ''New York Times'' reported in October 2010 that half of the Chamber's $140 million in contributions in 2008 came from just 45 big-money donors, many of whom enlisted the The Chamber's help to fight political and public opinion battles on their behalf (such has been described as opposing financial or healthcare reforms, or other regulations). <ref name= "NY Times Oct 22becoming "> ERIC LIPTON, MIKE McINTIRE and DON VAN NATTA Jr., [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/us/politics/22chamber.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2 Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber a fully functional part of Commerce Campaign], ''The New York Times'', October 21, 2010.</ref> The Chamber is "dominated by the partisan [[oil industryRepublican Party|oil companiesRepublican]], machine" after CEO and president [[pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical giantsThomas J. Donohue]]took office in 1997. Prior to Donohue's tenure, automakers and other polluting industries,the Chamber " according used to be a [[James Carter]], executive director of the [[Green Chamber of Commercetrade association]]that advocated in a bipartisan manner for narrowly tailored policies to benefit its members."<ref>Tom LochnerMatt Stoller, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20090307235216/http://www.contracostatimesmydd.com/newsstory/2006/12/13/ci_7247780 "Chamber hopes local promotion 14220/862 Tom Donahue, the 'Gang of green business produces national results6' and Red America,]"] ''ContraCostaTimesMyDD'', October 22December 13, 20072006. Archived by Internet Wayback Machine, March 7, 2009.</ref> {{Template:KochConnection}} __TOC__
==Accusations *'''[[Frank Luntz]]''', president and CEO of tax fraud Luntz Research Companies, is a pollster and political consultant and money laundering ==a frequent commentator on [[Fox News]].
===2010 Complaint===In September*'''David Merritt''' is the Managing Director for Luntz Global Partners. According to his official biography, Merritt "leads Luntz Global’s political, policy, and healthcare work, 2010helping campaigns, two national watchdog groupscandidates, [[Uand companies craft effective messages to persuade skeptical audiences...SHe was the leading fundraiser and a presidential campaign adviser to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Chamber Watch]] He worked closely with Speaker Gingrich for more than seven years on a wide range of healthcare issues, including as CEO of the Center for Health Transformation and the Gingrich Group. He was a health policy adviser to the 2008 presidential campaign of Senator John McCain, after serving the same role with former Senator Fred Thompson.”<ref>Luntz Global, "[http://www.velvetrevolutionluntzglobal.uscom/who-we-are/stop_chamberour-team/ StopTheChamberOur Team]," corporate biography, accessed July 2016.com]</ref> ====Who Was Polled==== Luntz Global interviewed 1,000 registered voters and "C-level executives" (CEOs, COOs or CFOs) who were members of their local chamber (46 percent), state chamber (28 percent), filed complaints with or the U.S. Chamber (16 percent). 73 percent were CEOs or owners. 49 percent of the firms took in between $50 million-$500 million in annual revenue. 41 percent had 100-499 employees, whie 19 percent had 1,000 or more employees. ====Summary of Poll Results==== =====Minimum Wage===== [[Internal Revenue ServiceFile:Minimum wage.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Support for Increasing Minimum Wage]] asking CEOs support raising the state minimum wage 80 percent to 8 percent. When asked which alternative to raising the minimum wage they preferred, a slight majority preferred the agency earned income tax credit as an alternative to other options presented. However, when a minimum wage hike was put head-to investigate -head against increasing the earned income tax credit, raising the wage won by a solid margin 54 percent-46 percent. When asked during the webinar about these surprising results, Merritt said, "it is undeniable that they support an increase" in the minimum wage. "My guess is that they are looking at raising it as a priority... If you are fighting a minimum wage increase, you are fighting an uphill battle." He continued, "most Americans support it, most Republicans support it... A winning argument is to put it up against other issues where it drops as a priority," advised Merritt. "In isolation it is definitely a winner."<ref name="Mary article"/> =====Paid Sick Leave===== [[Ufile:Paid sick.Sjpg|200px|thumb|right|Support for More Paid Sick Time and More Time Off for Sick Relatives]] CEOs supported [[Paid Sick Days|paid sick time]] 73 percent to 16 percent. Chamber When asked about "more time off to take care of Commercesick children or relatives" CEOs supported it 83 percent to 5 percent. =====Maternity and Paternity Leave===== CEOs supported "increasing maternity leave" 72 percent to 9 percent, and supported "mandating paternity leave" by 82 percent to 7 percent. =====Predictive Scheduling===== [[file:Predictive scheduling.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Support for Predictive Scheduling]] On predictive scheduling, CEOs support it 78 percent to 11 percent. Predictive scheduling measures would limit employers' ability to use on-call scheduling for criminal fraud their employees, requiring them to give sufficient advance notice to their employees about when they will and money launderingwill not be working. The groups allege "On-call" scheduling practices at fast food restaurants and chain stores that do not allow employees to plan for the care of their children have recently come to public attention, prompting San Francisco to pass one of the Chamber illegally funneled donations from a wealthy charitable foundation into its political battlesnation's first ordinances to address the problem in 2015. Already industry is talking about preempting such ordinances in certain states. Chamber Watch said that $12 million of an $18 million donation that <ref name="Mary article"/> =====Preemption===== State Chambers along with the wealthy [[Starr FoundationAmerican Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) have been pushing [[Preemption|preemption]] of living wage, minimum wage, prevailing wage, and other progressive policies promulgated by localities for some time.<ref>Brendan Fischer, "[httphttps://www.velvetrevolutionprwatch.usorg/news/2016/02/stop_chamber13029/images2016-ALEC-local-control Corporate Interests Take Aim at Local Democracy]," Center for Media and Democracy, ''PR Watch'', February 3, 2016.</irs_complaint_9_10_10ref> Multistate Associates has been supportive of these state preemption efforts.pdf gave] (pdf) gave In the Luntz Global poll CEOs were asked: "All of these issues may be important but when it comes to where an elected official stands, which issue is the National Chamber Foundation MOST important to you?" "State preemption of local mandates" was in at the form bottom of loans that have never been repaidthe list at 10 percent. Chamber Watch says Of those who said "state preemption of local mandates are most important," only 18 percent, the money smallest number, were worried about "ensuring local governments do not overly burden businesses when it comes to wages and benefits."<ref name="Mary article"/> =====Health Care===== "Keeping health care costs low for American families" was diverted to finance political causesa key concern for CEOs. Significantly, including it far outstripped "replacing ACA [the [[tort reformPPACA|Affordable Care Act]]]" or "making health care affordable for small businesses" as a priority. ==Federal Lobbying== As of July, 2016 the Chamber spends more money on lobbying than any other interest group. In the first seven months of 2016, the Chamber and its affiliate groups reported $22,925,000 in federal lobbying spending.<ref> Center for Responsive Politics, [https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.php?showYear=2016&indexType=s Lobbying: Top Spenders], ''opensecrets.org'', accessed July 20, 2016.</ref> Its top issue areas were torts, finance, law enforcement/crime, and government issues, according to shield companies like data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientissues.php?id=D000019798&year=2016 U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2016)], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed July 2016.</ref> See [AIGhttp://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientbills.php?id=D000019798&year=2016 here]] from liability lawsuitsfor a list of bills lobbied by the Chamber in 2016. ===Lobbying Spending by Year=== The Chamber reported the following federal lobbying spending by year: *In 2015, $84.73 million total was spent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and subsidiaries, Institute for Legal Reform, ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and US-Mexico Ldshp Initiative.<ref> Center for Responsive Politics, [[Starr Foundation]http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2015 Lobbying Database, 2015: U.S. Chamber of Commerce] , lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed July 20, 2016.</ref>*In 2014, $124.1 million total was founded spent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and subsidiaries, Institute for Legal Reform, Ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and Essential Worker Immigration Coalition.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[Cornelius Vander Starr]http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2014 Lobbying Database, 2014: U.S. Chamber of Commerce], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, 2015.</ref>*In 2013, $74.5 million total was spent by the insurance entrepreneur who also founded U.S. Chamber of Commerce and subsidiaries, Institute for Legal Reform, Ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and Essential Worker Immigration Coalition.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[AIG]http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2013 Lobbying Database, 2013: U.S. Chamber of Commerce], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, 2015.</ref>*In 2012, $136. The Foundation's Chairman of 3 million total was spent by the Board U.S. Chamber of Directors is Commerce and subsidiaries, Institute for Legal Reform, Ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and Essential Worker Immigration Coalition.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[Maurice Rhttp://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2012 Lobbying Database, 2012: U.S. Greenberg]Chamber of Commerce], former President lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, 2015.</ref>*In 2011, $66.4 million total was spent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and subsidiaries, Institute for Legal Reform, Ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and CEO Essential Worker Immigration Coalition. <ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2011 Lobbying Database, 2011: U.S. Chamber of AIGCommerce], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, 2015.</ref>*In 2010, $132.1 million total was spent by the U.S. The Foundation's Director (Chamber of Commerce and subsidiaries, the Institute for Legal Reform, the Ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and Treasurer) is Howard IEssential Worker Immigration Coalition. <ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2010 Lobbying Database, 2010: U.S. SmithChamber of Commerce], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, AIG's former Chief Financial Officer2015. StopTheChamber</ref>*In 2009, $144.com says it 6 million total was contacted spent by a the U.S. Chamber whistleblower of Commerce and subsidiaries, the Institute for Legal Reform, Ctr for Capital Markets Competitiveness, Global Intel Prop, and the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition. <ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.velvetrevolutionopensecrets.usorg/stop_chamberlobby/imagesclientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2009 Lobbying Database, 2009: U.S. Chamber of Commerce], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, 2015.</COC_DOJ_Letter8410ref>*in 2008, $92 million total was spent by the U.pdf who described] S. Chamber of Commerce and subsidiaries, the Institute for Legal Reform (pdfILR) how , Commerce Global Intel Prop, Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, US Chamber CEO of Commerce/Panacamara, and Institute for 21st Century Energy.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[Tom Donohuehttp://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000019798&year=2008 Lobbying Database, 2008: U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] is "scamming [business] clients to serve his own interests rather than , lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 5, 2015.</ref>*In 2007, $21.2 million total was spent by the interests U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its subsidiary the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR); $11.78 million for the business communityChamber and $9.4 million by ILR." The insider compared Donohue to <ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[Jack Abramoff]http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce&year=2007 Lobbying database, 2007: U.S. Chamber of Commerce] , lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref>*In 2006, $72.7 million total was spent by the Chamber and ILR; $45.7 million for the Chamber and $27 million for the ILR.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[Bernie Madoff]http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2006&txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce Lobbying database, 2006: U.S. Chamber of Commerce], lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref> *In 2005, $39. He also alleged that Donohue does not fear 8 million total was spent by the Chamber and ILR; $20 million for the Chamber and $19.8 million for ILR.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[Federal Elections Commissionhttp://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2005&txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce Lobbying database, 2005: U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] or Congress, lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref>*In 2004, $53.4 million total was spent by the Chamber and has a plan set up to attack ILR; $28.8 million for the Chamber and $24.5 million for ILR.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2004&txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce Lobbying database, 2004: U.S. Department Chamber of JusticeCommerce]] if , lobbying profile, Open Secrets database, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref> ==Election Spending and Political Contributions== ===2016 Presidential Elections=== As of July 20 the U.S. Chamber reported $16,653,027 in outside spending during the agency ever tries to investigate him2016 elections.<ref>National Desk Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.americanchronicleopensecrets.comorg/articlesoutsidespending/view/185296 Watchdog Groups Request Criminal Fraud and Money Laundering Investigations against The recips.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C90013145 U.S. Chamberof Commerce Targeted Candidates: 2016 Cycle], ''American Chronicleopensecrets.org'', September 15accessed July 20, 20102016.</ref> Candidates receiving the most support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are:
The September charge echoed similar charges made earlier in the year*Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) $1, in January908, 2010, that six of the largest health insurance companies in the U300*Rep.S. had been secretly funneling millions of dollars to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to oppose health reform. The total amount in this instance was estimated at between Martha Roby (AL-02) $10 million and $20 million. According to a report in the ''National Journal'' online1,750, the money was used "to help underwrite tens of millions of dollars of television ads by two business coalitions set up and subsidized by the chamber150*Sen."<ref>Staff reports [http://www.appomattoxnews.com/2010/uJohn McCain (R-s-chamber-of-commerce-charged-with-money-laundering-tactics.html U.S. Chamber of Commerce Charged with Money Laundering Tactics]AZ) $1, Appomattox News050, January 15, 2010</ref><ref>Peter H150*Sen. Stone [http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2010/01/healthRob Portman (R-insurers-funded-chamber.php Health Insurers Funded Chamber Attack Ads]OH) $915, NationalJournal438*Rep.comJoe Heck, January 12running for Senate (R-NV) $834, 2010</ref>337
===2006 Public Citizen Complaint===Candidates that the U.S. Chamber is spending most heavily against include:
On October 31*Katie McGinty, 2006running for Senate (D-PA) $1,797, ''[[Public Citizen]]'' filed a complaint<ref>[http://www.citizen.org/documents/ACF1F3E550*Gov.pdf Complaint filed with the IRSMaggie Hassan,] October 31running for Senate (D-NH) $1, 2006560, by ''Public Citizen''150*Rep.</ref> with the [[IRS]] asking it to investigate whether Patrick Murphy, running in the Chamber and "its affiliated Institute for Legal Reform Democratic Senate primary (ILRD-FL) failed to report millions in taxable spending from 2000 to 2004 intended to influence state-level attorney general and supreme court races and federal races around the country."<ref name="shell">[http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=2305 News Release: "U.S. Chamber of Commerce Failed to Report Electioneering Spending and Grants$1,500, Public Citizen Asks IRS to Investigate150*Fmr Gov. Chamber Spent Millions to Influence State and Federal RacesTed Strickland,"] ''Public Citizen''running for Senate (D-OH) $1, October 31440, 2006.</ref>588
It also asked the IRS to investigate whether Chamber and the ILR, "which are two separate legal entities, combined funds in a shared bank account to hide accurate reporting of investment or interest income for tax avoidance. ... Court records, internal corporate documents and media reports indicate that the Chamber and the ILR engaged in a massive campaign to affect the outcome of state and federal races through direct expenditures and grants made to organizations that carried out the Chamber’s wishes."<ref name="shell"/>==2014 Midterm Elections===
''Public Citizen'' The U.S. Chamber reported that$35,464,243 in outside spending during the 2014 midterm elections.<ref name>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000019798 U.S. Chamber of Commerce], 2014 spending profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 2015.</ref> The bulk of this spending (nearly $24 million) was for media buys, and the total included $1,412,500 reported as spent against Democratic candidates, $11,603,968 for Republican candidates, and $1,000,000 against Republican candidates.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, "shell[http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cycle=2014&cmte=C90013145 U.S. Chamber of Commerce PAC],"2014 spending profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 2015.</ref>
:"In 2000, the Chamber claimed it spent $6 million on judicial races and took credit for winning 15 out of 17 state supreme court contests. In 2002, the Chamber said it planned to spend $40 million on political campaigns, divided equally between congressional and state-level attorneys general and judicial races. None of these activities were reported on their tax returns from 2000 to 2003.===2012 Presidential Elections===
:"In 2004The U.S. Chamber reported $32,255, 439 in outside spending during the first year since at least 2000 that the 2012 elections.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics,[http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C90013145&cycle=2012 U.S. Chamber of Commerce], 2012 spending profile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 2015.</ref> The bulk of this spending ($21,376,598) was for media buys, and the ILR total included $305,044 reported political expendituresas spent for Democratic candidates, $10,804,999 against Democratic candidates, and $1,134,015 for Republican candidates.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, both organizations appear to have underreported their "[http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2012&cmte=C90013145 U.S. Chamber of Commerce PAC]," 2012 spendingprofile, Open Secrets database, accessed August 2015. They reported a combined $18 million, but </ref> This was the first election cycle in a 'President's Update' memo released which the day after the November elections, Chamber President Thomas Donohue claimed the group had spent up money on ads that explicitly told viewers to $30 million in races around the countryvote for or against a candidate.<ref name="open secrets profile"/>
The U.S. Chamber It played a major role in the Republican victories in the 2010 midterm Congressional elections, promising to spend $75 million (and reporting only $32 million), and helping to organize and coordinate spending by other "outside interest groups" like [[American Crossroads]] and [[American Action Network]] .<ref>David Fredosso, [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/us-chamber-of-commerce-aims-to-spend-75m-on-midterm-elections-97667269.html U.S. Chamber Aims to Spend $75 Million on Midterm Elections], Washington Examiner, July 2, 2010. </ref> In a blog post the night before the election, the Chamber stated it “had "had been a game-changing political force in these midterms. We’ve engaged in tight, competitive races; and we’ve altered them.”"<ref>Chamber Post, [http://www.chamberpost.com/2010/11/on-the-verge-of-a-new-beginning-for-business.html On the Verge of a New Beginning for Business], Chamber Post organizational blog, November 1, 2010.</ref>
Whats more, while While 93% percent of reported expenditures went to support Republicans, the 6% percent spent to support Democrats were was spent on generic, non-candidate-specific ads, rather than more effective ads attacking opponents. The ads tended not to identify candidate-specific positive qualities, instead relying on a template with the same title for several different candidates, only changing the candidate’s name, picture and office number. The ads were also run later than ads supporting their Republican counterparts.<ref name= "chamber watch report"></ref> ==== Ties to American Crossroads ====
==== Link to [[American Crossroads]] ====American Crossroads and the Chamber are closely tied, and closely coordinated their efforts in the 2010 midterm elections.
== The Chamber's [[Workforce Freedom Initiative]] released a report in March 2015 titled "Opportunity at Risk: A New Joint-Employer Standard and the Threat to Small Business." The report "highlights the administration's ongoing effort to redefine the concept of "joint-employment" relationships, which threatens to disrupt major sectors of the economy such as franchising and subcontracting," according to the Chamber, which characterized the NLRB decision as "overreach" that "would facilitate unionization efforts."<ref>Sean Redmond, "[https://www.uschamber.com/blog/opportunity-risk-nlrbs-joint-employer-meddling Opportunity At Risk: The NLRB's Joint-Employer Meddling]," U.S. Chamber of Commerce blog, March 20, 2015.</ref> The WFI report claims treating franchisers and companies that outsource to subcontrators as joint employers would result in "higher costs, fewer new businesses, less growth, and fewer new jobs."<ref>U.S. Politics ==Chamber of Commerce Workforce Freedom Initiative, "[http://www.workforcefreedom.com/sites/default/files/Joint%20Employer%20Standard%20Final_0.pdf Opportunity at Risk: A New Joint-Employer Standard and the Threat to Small Business]," report, March 20, 2015.</ref>
===Climate Change Legislation===In 2009, the The U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbied against climate change legislation introduced by Congress. In describing its strategyhas partnered with the [[International Franchise Association]] (IFA), the Chamber says it will "resist ill-conceived legislation that is economically disruptive [[National Federation of business and industry activitiesIndependent Business]], that creates regulatory and legislative obstacles to development and deployment of affordable[[National Restaurant Association]], innovative energy technologies[[Job Creators Network]], and that could severely damage other corporate lobbying groups to oppose the security and economy of NLRB's joint employer ruling through the United States."<ref>IFA-run [[http://www.uschamber.com/issues/index/environment/climatechange.htm "Climate Change,"Coalition to Save Local Businesses]] U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accessed October 2009.</ref> The chamber said it supports "mainstream, common sense views" on climate change, but that it opposes See the [[Waxman-Markey Climate Bill]International Franchise Association] passed by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009.<ref name="sciam">Deborah Zabarenko, [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=rift-at-us-chamber-of-com "Rift at U.S. Chamber of Commerce over climate change,"] ''Scientific American,'' September 30, 2009page for more information.</ref>
The group's opposition ===Opposition to the legislation has caused a rift among its corporate members. A number of companies have announced they are leaving the organization as a result of its stance on climate change regulations. Energy companies [[Exelon]], [[PG&E]], and [[PNM Resources]] all announced in September 2009 that they were quitting the Chamber. <ref>[http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/09/28/outPaid Sick Leave (2011-the-door-exelon-leaves-chamber-of-commerce-over-climate-policy/ "Out the Door: Exelon Leaves Chamber of Commerce over Climate Policy,"]] ''Wall Street Journal,'' September 28, 2009.</ref> [[Apple Inc]] also resigned from the Chamber, saying in a statement, "We would prefer that the chamber take a more progressive stance on this critical issue and play a constructive role in addressing the climate crisis"<ref>Jenna Staul, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/apple-quits-chamber-of-co_n_310301.html?show_comment_idpresent)==32293735 "Apple Quits Chamber Of Commerce Over Climate Change,"] Huffington Post, October 5, 2009.</ref> Sportswear company [[Nike]] also criticized the Chamber's challenge of the U.S. EPA's authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions as air pollution.<ref name="sciam"/> Nike said it would resign from the Chambers's board of directors, but that it would retain its membership to the organization in order to work for climate change legislation from inside the organization.<ref>Jenna Staul, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/nike-quits-chamber-of-com_n_304591.html "Nike Quits Chamber Of Commerce Board Of Directors,"] Huffington Post, September 30, 2009.</ref>
{{#evp:youtube|vYGcIhNGSIYMore than 40 percent of the work force in the United States cannot take [[Paid Sick Days|sick days]] without losing wages or possibly their jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Major cities such as Washington DC, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, as well as the state of Connecticut, have put paid sick day laws on the books; New York City will soon follow suit.<ref name="BF"/> The Yes Meninitiative is quickly moving to cities across the country "and in each case, the state and local branches of the National Restaurant Association, the NFIB, and the Chamber are actively opposing it" as they did in Philadelphia.<ref name="BF"/> Philadelphia was not the first instance where these special interest groups came together to thwart this legislation. City of Milwaukee voters passed a paid sick days referendum with over 70 percent of the vote in 2008 but when [[Scott Walker]] became Wisconsin's fake press conference|left|300}}governor in 2011, the state affiliate of the National Restaurant Association and the local Chamber lobbied Walker to back "a bill to overturn this expression of local democratic will and preempt any local paid sick day ordinance."<ref name="BF"/>
====Citizen action against In Wisconsin, a local representative of the US Chamber of Commerce's stance on climate change=========Yes Men stage fake Chamber called the [[Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce press conference=====On October 19, 2009, anti-corporate performance artists ]] lobbied together with the Yes Men issued a fake press release on behalf of [[Wisconsin Restaurant Association]] for the Chamber adoption of CommerceSenate Bill 23, claiming that the Chamber had reversed its position on climate change would no longer lobby against the legislationwhich overturned a local ordinance requiring paid sick leave for workers. The activists managed to secure law "specified that paid sick leave could be used if a room at the National Press Club worker is ill, needs to stage care for a press conference announcing the policy shift to reporterssick child, or obtain counseling if raped or battered, for example. The real Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Eric Wohlschlegel interrupted the event law also barred companies from penalizing workers for exercising their rights and declared the event a fraud. Afterwards, the Chamber threatened from erecting unreasonable barriers to push for a criminal investigation over impede the prankfair use of sick leave." <ref>Sam SteinRebekah Wilce, [httphttps://www.huffingtonpostprwatch.comorg/2009news/2011/10/1911079/chamberflu-ofburger-alec-wants-sick-people-serving-commerceyou-hoax_n_326069.html "Yes Men Pull Off Chamber Of Commerce Hoax On Climate Changefood Flu with that Burger? Alec Wants Sick People Serving You Food],"] Huffington PostPR Watch, October 19, 20092011.</ref>
=====Grassroots campaigns against In March 2013, the ChamberPhiladelphia City Council passed, by an 11 to 6 vote, a paid sick days bill that would have allowed employees without sick leave to earn up to four paid sick days per year.<ref name====="NBCP">Dan Stamm, [http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Paid-Sick-Leave-Bill-Veto-Stands-202535031.html "Paid Sick Leave Veto Override Falls 1 Vote Short"], '''CREDO Action'NBC Philadelphia'', part April 11, 2013</ref> Over 180,000 workers in Philadelphia do not have access to paid sick days and would have benefited from this measure. <ref name="BF"/> However, major opponents of the Working Assets companypaid sick leave bill, launched a campaign against special interest groups aligned with the Chamber's stance on climate change legislation. The group is organizing an effort to urge members of the lobbying group to resign[[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC), calling on them successfully lobbied Mayor Nutter to veto it<ref name="denounce the Chamber's extremist position on global warming and revoke your membership effective immediately.BF"<ref>Brendan Fischer, [httphttps://actwww.credoactionprwatch.comorg/news/2013/04/campaign12059/chamber_of_commercepaid-sick-days-defeat-philadelphia-followed-familiar-script "Paid Sick Days Defeat in Philadelphia Followed Familiar Script"], ''PRWatch'', April 17, 2013</ ref>. The bill died when the council was unable to sway enough nay votes to override the mayoral veto; they needed just one more.<ref name="Quit NBCP"/> These groups, the [[National Restaurant Association]], the [[U.S. Chamberof Commerce]], and the [[National Federation of Independent Business]] (NFIB) are all tied to [[ALEC]]. Join <ref name="BF"/> The case of Philadelphia was unique in "the Planetparticipation of telecommunications giant [[Comcast]], Philadelphia's highest grossing company and an [[ALEC]] member."]<ref name="BF"/> The corporation spent over $108, CREDO Action000 on lobbying, accessed October 2009most of which went towards opposition to the paid sick days bill.<ref name="BF"/ref>
===Employee Free Choice Act===
"Under Donohue’s leadership, the ===''Legal Newsline'' Attacks Wife of Prosecutor Investigating Chamber has also emerged as a major player in election politics, helping elect congressional pro-business candidates through financial support and voter activism and turnout generated through the Chamber’s grassroots organization," [[VoteForBusiness]],<ref nameAffiliate (2014)==="Don">[http://www.uschamber.com/about/management/donohue.htm Management: Donohue,] U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref> billed as "Your One-Stop Political Action, Education, and Involvement Tool".
Websites: http://www''See [[Scott_Walker#Second_John_Doe_Investigation.voteforbusiness2C_February_2012-July_2015|here]] for more information about the John Doe investigation.net/ and http://www.voteforbusiness.com<br>''
===Opposition to Paid Sick Leave===In Wisconsin, a local representative of A long-running investigation into whether the US Chmaber campaign of Commerce called the Wisconsin Governor [[Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of CommerceScott Walker]] lobbied together illegally coordinated with outside groups, including the Chamber's Wisconsin affiliate [[Wisconsin Restaurant AssociationManufacturers and Commerce]] for , was led by a Republican prosecutor and included the adoption participation of Senate Bill 23elected county District Attorneys from both political parties. But ''Legal Newsline'', which overturned a local ordinance requiring paid sick leave for workersan outlet funded by the U.S. The law Chamber, cited an unnamed source to "break the news"specified on September 9, 2014 that paid sick leave could be used if a worker is illone of the DAs, John Chisholm, needs to care "may have had personal motivations for his investigation," since Chisholm's wife was a public school teacher and union member who "frequently cried when discussing the topic of the union disbanding" as a sick childresult of Walker's signature Act 10 legislation. The story was commissioned by the right-wing reporting group the [[American Media Institute]]. As the Center for Media and Democracy reported, the allegation was quickly repeated by right-wing media, or obtain counseling if raped or batteredincluding the [[Bradley Foundation]]-funded Media Trackers and Wisconsin Reporter, for example. ''The Wall Street Journal'', and the UK-based ''Daily Mail'', which ran the headline: "Wife's weeping over anti-union law also barred companies from penalizing workers for exercising their rights drove Democratic DA to target Republican governor's staff and from erecting unreasonable barriers to impede the fair use of sick leaveconservative activists." <ref> Brendan Fischer, "[httphttps://www.prwatch.org/newsnode/2011/10/11079/flu-burger-alec-wants-sick-people-serving-you-food Flu with that Burger? Alec Wants Sick People Serving You Food12599 US Chamber Attack on Wife of Walker Prosecutor Falls Apart] ," Center for Media and Democracy, ''PR Watch'', October 19September 15, 2011, accessed October 21, 2011 2014.</ref>
==National Chamber Foundation== "The revitalized National Chamber Foundationstory fell apart shortly afterward. On September 12, the Chamber’s public policy [[think tank]]''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' reported that the unnamed source described as a "former staff prosecutor" was actually Michael Lutz, is shaping a former unpaid intern who previously made death threats to the prosecutor and his family. Lutz's involvement was confirmed by the policy debate on cutting-edge business issuesAmerican Media Institute, but Lutz himself declined to comment, saying that he wanted "to stay out of this firestorm." The ''Journal Sentinel'' described Lutz's past as "troubled," noting that he had previously worked as a police officer, with major new initiatives on intellectual property theft and counterfeitingbut had filed for disability in 2006, capital markets "saying he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his physical injuries and accounting rulespast media coverage of his actions."<ref>Daniel Bice, and travel and tourism"[http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/source-who-accused-chisholm-of-vendetta-has-troubled-past-b99350187z1-274905441.html Source who accused Chisholm of vendetta has troubled past],"''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', September 12, 2014.</ref> In July 2015, Lutz died in an apparent suicide.<ref name=>Bill Glauber, "Don[http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/former-aldermanic-candidate-michael-lutz-dies-in-apparent-suicide-b99544888z1-318568561.html Former aldermanic candidate Michael Lutz dies in apparent suicide],"''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', July 26, 2015.</ref>
"The ''[[National Chamber Litigation CenterMadison County Record]]'' (madisonrecord.com) is "an Illinois weekly newspaper launched in September [2004] that bills itself as the county's legal journal, reports on one subject: the Chamber’s law firm, has become more aggressive in challenging anti-business measures state courts in courtsouthern Illinois, setting a new record for cases entered in each of " the last six years and securing 48 court victories ''Washington Post'' reported in 20062004."<ref name="Donsuit">Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38184-2004Dec5.html Advocacy Groups Blur Media Lines. Some Push Agendas By Producing Movies, Owning Newspapers], ''Washington Post'', December 6, 2004.</ref>
The Chamber has taken As of 2015, the ''Madison County Record'' was still operating, and its stories did not appear to include a lead role in notice about the outlet's relationship with the [[tort reform]] movementU.S. Chamber business lobby. It sponsors However, its "About" page noted that it was "owned by owned by the [[U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform]] (ILR)."<ref>''Madison County Record'', a "[[501(c)6]] organization, and [[Legal Reform Now]], a coalition of business associations, [[think tanks]], and legal reform groups. Website: http://wwwmadisonrecord.instituteforlegalreformcom/about-us About Us]," organizational website, accessed August 2015.com</ref>
On its website, the ILR posted a "State Liability Systems Ranking" which it calls "Lawsuit Climate 2007".<ref>[http://www.instituteforlegalreform.com/lawsuitclimate2007/index.cfm "Lawsuit Climate 2007: Rating the States,"] InstituteforLegalReform, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref>==Legal Issues and Litigation==
The ''Madison County Record'', ===Tort "an Illinois weekly newspaper launched in September [2004] that bills itself as the county's legal journal, reports on one subject: the state courts in southern Illinois,Reform" Jeffrey H. Birnbaum reported in the ''Washington Post''.<ref name="suit">Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38184-2004Dec5.html "Advocacy Groups Blur Media Lines. Some Push Agendas By Producing Movies, Owning Newspapers,"] ''Washington Post'', December 6, 2004.</ref>==
Birnbuam pointed to The Chamber has taken a "recent front pagelead role in the [[thattort reform] carried an assortment of stories about lawsuits against businesses] movement. In oneIt sponsors the [[Institute for Legal Reform]] (ILR), a woman sought $15[[501(c)6]] organization, and [[Legal Reform Now]],000 in damages for breaking her nose at a haunted house. In anothercoalition of business associations, a woman sued a restaurant for $50[[think tanks]],000 after she hurt her teeth on a chicken breastand legal reform groups. Website: http://www.instituteforlegalreform.. Nowhere was it reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce created the ''Record'' as a weapon in its multimillion-dollar campaign against lawyers who file those kinds of suits," Birnbaum wrote.<ref name="suit"com/>
===Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act===On its website, the ILR posted a "State Liability Systems Ranking" which it calls "Lawsuit Climate 2007".<ref>Institute for Legal Reform, "[http://www.instituteforlegalreform.com/lawsuitclimate2007/index.cfm Lawsuit Climate 2007: Rating the States]," organizational website, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref>
In October 2007, the Chamber filed a friend-of-the court filing in a class action lawsuit under consideration by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] which originated with a California RICO lawsuit involving [[Microsoft]] and [[Best Buy]]. The Chamber stated that ===Opposing "RICO is getting out of control as a device against business. It has been used in more than 4,500 cases since 2001, with only 35 of those cases filed by the government.Activist Judges"<ref>Scott Bekker, [http://rcpmag.com/blogs/weblog.aspx?blog=1406 "Microsofted Up. Mafia law pops up in legal dispute over Microsoft-Best Buy arrangement,"] ''Redmond Channel Partner Online'', October 16, 2007.</ref> The Supreme Court overturned the appeal and ruled that Microsoft and Best Buy are subject to RICO laws.<ref>[http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Supreme_Court_Microsoft_Best_Buy_Subject_to_Racketeering_Laws_09682.html "Supreme Court: Microsoft, Best Buy Subject to Racketeering Laws,"] eFluxMedia.com, October 16, 2007.</ref>==
The Chamber's TradeRoots website is billed as "the nation's leading sustained grassroots education program dedicated ===Opposition to raising public awareness of international trade on a local level."<ref>[http://www.traderoots.org TradeRoots.org.]</ref>Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act (2007)===
The ''Trade Toolbox''In October 2007, the Chamber filed a "resource to help friend-of-the court filing in a class action lawsuit under consideration by the trade export process, [[U.S.Supreme Court]] which originated with a California RICO lawsuit involving [[Microsoft]] and [[Best Buy]]. includes trade statisticsThe Chamber stated that "RICO is getting out of control as a device against business. It has been used in more than 4, country and market reports500 cases since 2001, best market reportswith only 35 of those cases filed by the government."<ref>Scott Bekker, frequently asked questions and trade contacts[http://rcpmag.com/blogs/weblog.aspx?blog=1406 Microsofted Up." The Mafia law pops up in legal dispute over Microsoft-Best Buy arrangement], ''ToolboxRedmond Channel Partner Online'' was funded by a grant from , October 16, 2007.</ref> The Supreme Court overturned the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]]appeal and ruled that Microsoft and Best Buy are subject to RICO laws.<ref>eFluxMedia.com, [http://web.archive.org/web/20080423161844/http://www.traderootsefluxmedia.orgcom/fsMainnews_Supreme_Court_Microsoft_Best_Buy_Subject_to_Racketeering_Laws_09682.asp?i=tt Trade toolboxhtml Supreme Court: Microsoft,Best Buy Subject to Racketeering Laws] TradeRoots.org, organizational report - accessed via the wayback machine, October 16, 2007.</ref>
Website: http://www.traderoots.org/<br>==Ties to the Tobacco Industry==
TheTrueCosts.org is a website sponsored by the Chamber. In conjunction with the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy ===Global Campaign to Fight Antismoking Measures (CACP2015 report), it has produced the ''No Trade in Fakes Supply Chain Tool Kit'', which provides "proven strategies" for companies "to use to protect their supply chains from counterfeiters and modern-day pirates."<ref>[http://www.thetruecosts.org/portal/truecosts/resources/supplychain Resources: SupplyChain,] TheTrueCosts.org.</ref>===
WebsiteThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce has actively worked to block anti-smoking efforts worldwide, ''The New York Times'' documented in a 2015 story: http://www"From Ukraine to Uruguay, Moldova to the Philippines, the U.S.thetruecostsChamber of Commerce and its foreign affiliates have become the hammer for the tobacco industry, engaging in a worldwide effort to fight antismoking laws of all kinds, according to interviews with government ministers, lobbyists, lawmakers and public health groups in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States.org"<brref name="chamber works globally"/>
==Coal and Energy=====Chamber distributes books on energy to children===In 2010the 2000s, a global treaty called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was negotiated through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined with [[Scholastic]] Books World Health Organization that "mandates anti-smoking measures and also seeks to distribute roughly 100,000 books about curb the potential perils influence of government fossil fuel regulation to classrooms across the country, as part of its “Shedding Light on Energytobacco industry in policy making." campaign. The book asks, “What do you think could happen if one of our energy sources was suddenly unavailable treaty has been ratified by 179 countries (e.g., power plant maintenance, government curb on production, etc.not including the United States)?” Chamber officials maintain that there is no “hidden agenda” behind the question or the educational outreach effort and went into effect in general, although the book is notably being distributed at a time when the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] is set to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions2005.<ref name=jv"chamber works globally">Josh VoorheesDanny Hakim, "[http://www.politiconytimes.com/news2015/07/01/storiesbusiness/1010international/43844us-chamber-works-globally-to-fight-antismoking-measures.html#ixzz14oxFHwth "?_r=1 U.S. Chamber: Worry about energy regulationsof Commerce Works Globally to Fight Antismoking Measures], kids"] Politico''The New York Times'', June 30, Oct2015. 19Accessed August 5, 20102015.</ref>
===As of 2015 an [[Altria Group]] executive served on the Chamber's Institute for Energy===In March 2007board, and according to ''OThe New York Times'Dwyer's PR Daily'' reported that General , "[[James L. JonesPhilip Morris International]], formerly plays a leading role in the Supreme Allied Commander of [[NATO]] forces global campaign; one executive drafted a position paper used by a chamber affiliate in EuropeBrussels, had joined while another accompanied a chamber executive to a meeting with the UPhilippine ambassador in Washington to lobby against a cigarette-tax increase.S. Chamber of Commerce as a lobbyistThe cigarette makers’ payments to the chamber are not disclosed."<ref name="Joneschamber works globally">[http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0305jones_uscoc.htm "Jones Works Energy Front,"] ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'' (sub req'd), March 5, 2007.</ref>
"Jones will head the [[Institute The Chamber denies that it is fighting antismoking measures, and claims to be merely advocating for Energy]]intellectual property rights of companies, against discriminatory treatment of tobacco firms, which is to present itself as a [[Astroturf|grassroots]] organizationand opposing excessive taxation. "The Chamber went a similar path with the creation believes that public health policy aimed at curbing smoking can yield positive results, while still upholding intellectual property protections, honoring international agreements, and not singling out any specific industry for discriminatory treatment or destruction of the Institute for Legal Reformcompany brands." Jones will focus on <ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce, [[global warming]] and seek "to 'unify energy stakeholders behind a common strategy' to produce affordable and secure supplies while protecting https://www.uschamber.com/above-the-fold/clearing-the-smoke-around-the-chamber-s-tobacco-related-advocacy?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Wallpost&utm_campaign=Status Clearing the Smoke around the environment," reported ''O'DwyerChamber's''Tobacco Related Advocacy], July 1, 2015, accessed August 5, quoting Chamber president Tom Donohue2015.</ref name="Jones"/>
"After a Minneapolis bridge collapsed on AugWhile the U.S. 1Chamber was working to block or undermine anti-smoking efforts, [2007,] killing 13 people, members health insurers and hospitals held positions on its board of Congress have sought directors. According to increase the gas tax to fix 'structurally deficient' bridges and make other infrastructure repairsThe New York Times'', :The chamber’s global opposition to antismoking measures. ..poses a challenge for many of the members of the organization, particularly hospitals and health insurers. The UFour executives of leading health care organizations, including Mr.SDeVeydt [executive vice president of [[Anthem]]], are members of the chamber’s board. Chamber The other three executives come from the Health Care Service Corporation, an insurer based in Chicago, the Steward Health Care System of Commerce Boston and the [[National Association Indiana University Health system.:"Smoking is one of the leading causes of Manufacturers]]death," Brooke Thurston, groups that don’t normally agree with tax increasesa spokeswoman for Steward, support said in a national gas tax increase to pay statement, adding, "If the chamber is in fact advocating for infrastructure improvementsincreased smoking we do not agree with them on this public health issue.":The other three companies declined to comment.<refname="board members fight smoking">Jim SnyderDanny Hakim, "[http://thehillwww.nytimes.com/the-executive2015/07/02/business/international/...we-aremany-absolutelyboard-failingmembers-...fight-insmoking-howeven-theas-system-ischamber-performingopposes-2007tobacco-10-19laws.html "‘U.S..We are absolutely failing ... in how the system is performing’Chamber Fights Smoking Laws While Hospitals and Insurers Sit on Its Board],"] ''The HillNew York Times'', October 19July 2, 20072015.</ref>
==Other issues=====Opposing national health care reform===''The U.S. Chamber sponsors the Times'' noted that PR firm [[Campaign for Responsible Health ReformBurson-Marsteller]], which previously represented multiple tobacco clients, opposed the Chamber's efforts::"It’s pretty obvious that you don’t want to be seen doing the bidding of an interest which is no longer legitimate," said David Earnshaw, president of the Brussels office of Burson-Marsteller, a program created company that long worked for the tobacco industry. He tried unsuccessfully to convince people to preserve employer-sponsored health insurance and oppose prevent a public insurance option major affiliate of the chamber, based in health care reform in the UBrussels, from issuing a position paper targeting a European proposal on plain packaging..S. :An unpublished early version of the position paper, which was obtained by ''The Campaign aims to convince people Times'', reveals that a governmentthe rapporteur, or primary author, was Anne-sponsored plan is "fiscally recklessLaure Covin," will "lead us down the road to total government control an executive of our health[[Philip Morris International]]," and that it will make those with private insurance pay even morewhich is now separate from Philip Morris U.S.A. The company had no comment.<ref>Campaign for Responsible Health Reform [http://www.responsiblehealthreformPhilip Morris was not the only company involved.org/campaign The Campaignpaper came from a committee at the chamber’s European Union branch run by a [[Time Warner]]executive, Web pageVincent Jamois, accessed August 18whose name and corporate affiliation are on the draft version of the paper, 2009right above Ms. Covin’s name.<ref name="board members fight smoking"/ref>
The Campaign says that "Another board member, [[Pfizer]], markets a government-run plan that would have broad and unrivaled power drug to negotiate for low-cost services of doctors and other health care providers could put private insurers out of businesshelp people stop smoking."<ref> Campaign for Responsible Health Reform [http://www.responsiblehealthreform.orgname="board members fight smoking"/tools-resources/faqs FAQs], accessed August 18, 2009</ref>
The group's Web site has a "Take Action" page that says "We can’t afford to let a government-run plan raise our taxes and create long waits for treatment===CVS Leaves U." It urges people to write their Congress members to oppose "government-run health careS."<ref>Campaign for Responsible Health Reform [http://www.responsiblehealthreform.org/take-action Take Action], accessed August 18, 2009</ref>Chamber Over Tobacco Efforts (2015)===
===SCHIP veto===Shortly after the ''Times'' report on the Chamber's global tobacco lobbying efforts, the drugstore chain [[CVS]] announced that it was ending its membership. CVS had ended sales of tobacco products in its stores in 2014. The company released a statement saying, "We were surprised to read recent press reports concerning the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s position on tobacco products outside the United States... CVS Health’s purpose is to help people on their path to better health, and we fundamentally believe tobacco use is in direct conflict with this purpose."<ref>Andrea Germanos, "[http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/08/cvs-quits-us-chamber-commerce-over-craven-ties-tobacco-industry CVS Quits US Chamber of Commerce Over 'Craven' Ties to Tobacco Industry]," ''Common Dreams'', July 8, 2015.</ref>
The Chamber is among a number of organizations which supported President [[George W. Bush]]'s October 2007 veto of the SCHIP ==Alleged Spying on Critics ([[State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007]]2010-2011) bill.<ref>[http://campaignsandelections.com/sc/releases/index.cfm?ID=5325 "Barrett Supports Bush On SCHIP,"] ''Campaigns & Elections'', October 18, 2007.</ref> [[Republican Party|Republicans]] and "some business groups" such as the Chamber contended SCHIP "should focus on poor children and the expansion [would be] a move towards government-run health care. They also worr[ied] identification rules in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] SCHIP bill might allow [[illegal immigration|illegal immigrants]] to obtain government coverage."<ref>Mike Sunnucks, [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/10/15/daily42.html "SCHIP override falls short,"] ''The Business Journal of Phoenix'', October 18, 2007.</ref>=
===Immigration amnesty and reform===The ChamberIn 2010, [[Aaron Barr]], "among othersCEO of the technology security company [[HBGary]] Federal, has pushed for immigration reforms alleged that would allow a path he could exploit social media to gather information about hackers like those who supported [[WikiLeaks]]. In early 2011, Barr claimed to have used his techniques to infiltrate the [[Wikileaks]] supporter [[Anonymous]], partly by using IRC, Facebook, Twitter, and social networking sites. His e-mails depict his intention to release information on the identities of Anonymous members and to sell it to citizenship for undocumented workerspossible clients."<refname="arstechnicacom1">Josh FloryNate Anderson, [http://www.knoxnewsarstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/20072011/oct02/20/formerhow-one-security-firm-labortracked-secretaryanonymousand-authorpaid-callsa-forheavy-toprice.ars How one man tracked down Anonymous - and paid a heavy price], Ars Technica, Feb 9 2011.</ref></ "The Reich Way. Former labor secretaryref> In early February of 2011, the activist group [[Anonymous]] hacked the firm's website, copied tens of thousands of documents from HBGary, author calls for Americans to reclaim democracyposted tens of thousands of company emails online,and usurped Barr's Twitter account.<ref name="arstechnicacom2">[[Peter Bright, [http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/02/anonymous-speaks-the-inside-story-of-the-hbgary-hack.ars/ Law & Disorder: Tech Law and Policy in the Digital Age] Knoxville News Sentinel Co., October 20Ars Technica, February 15, 20072011.</ref>
In January 2004According to some of HBGary's e-mails, speaking in support the [[Chamber of amnesty Commerce]] hired the lobbying firm [[Hunton & Williams]], and attorneys for illegal aliensthe law firm then solicited a set of private security firms — HB Gary Federal, Palantir, and Berico Technologies (collectively called Team Themis) — to develop a sabotage campaign against progressive groups and labor unions, including the group [[Randel Y. JohnsonThinkProgress]], Chamber vice president for the laborcoalition [[Change to Win]], immigration and employee benefitsthe labor union [[SEIU]], said: "We need a system of 'earned targeted adjustment' for undocumented workers that fill vital roles in our economy[[U.S. Chamber Watch]], which would enable them to achieve legal statusand [[StopTheChamber.com]]. We also need to expand permanent Later emails revealed that the private spy company investigated the families and temporary visas for workers to enter children of the United States legally to meet future workforce requirementsChamber’s political opponents. The apparent spearhead of this project was Aaron Barr, who circulated numerous emails and documents detailing information about political opponents’ children, spouses, and personal lives."<ref>Joseph Romm, [http://www.fairusclimateprogress.org/site2011/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecentersa5ad "Organizations Supporting Amnesty for Illegal Aliens02/13/shocker-chamber-of-commerce-lobbyists-solicited-firm-to-investigate-opponents’-families-children/ Bombshell: Chamber of Commerce lobbyists solicited firm to investigate opponents’ families,"children] [[Federation for American Immigration Reform]] (FAIR), undatedThinkProgress, Feb. 13, 2011.</ref>
The Chamber reported spending $20,060,000 in the first six months of 2004 and $8,780,000 in the last six months of 2004. They paid forty-five lobbyists in the last six months of 2004 to lobby on thirty-two issue areas, including "Trade, Small Business, Labor, Healthcare, Defense, Appropriations, Tort Reform and other areas."<ref>[http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2005/01/000/031/000031109|138 Lobbying Report for 2004: Chamber of Commerce of the USA,] Senate ID#8817 and House ID#31886000.</ref> The Institute for Legal Reform reported spending $10,000,000 in the first six months of 2004 and $14,540,000 in the last six months. They had five lobbyists on the payroll for the last six months of 2004, working on the tort reform issue including "Class Action Fairness, Asbestos Injury Resolution, Legal Reform, and Lawsuit Abuse Reduction."<ref>[http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2005/01/000/031/000031095|13 Lobbying Report for 2004: U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform,] Senate ID#51172-12, House ID#34805000.</ref> ===2006 Public Citizen Complaint===
===Election cycle spending===Other spending reported by On October 31, 2006, ''Political Money Line'' or ''Open Secrets[[Public Citizen]]''filed a complaint<ref>Public Citizen, [http://www.citizen.org/documents/ACF1F3E.pdf Complaint filed with the IRS], organizational complaint, October 31, 2006.</ref> with the [[IRS]] asking it to investigate whether the Chamber and "its affiliated Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) failed to report millions in taxable spending from 2000 to 2004 intended to influence state-level attorney general and supreme court races and federal races around the country."<ref name="shell">Public Citizen, [http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=2305 News Release:"U.S. Chamber of Commerce Failed to Report Electioneering Spending and Grants, Public Citizen Asks IRS to Investigate. Chamber Spent Millions to Influence State and Federal Races,"], news release, October 31, 2006.</ref>
*In 2007, $21.2 million total was spent by It also asked the U.S. IRS to investigate whether Chamber of Commerce and its subsidiary the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR); $11.78 million for the Chamber and $9.4 million by ILR.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce&year=2007 Lobbying database, 2007: U.S. Chamber of Commerce,] ''OpenSecrets.org''. Totals "which are as posted by October 22two separate legal entities, 2007.</ref>*In 2006, $72.7 million total was spent by the Chamber and ILR; $45.7 million for the Chamber and $27 million combined funds in a shared bank account to hide accurate reporting of investment or interest income for the ILR.<ref>[http://wwwtax avoidance.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2006&txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce Lobbying database, 2006: U.S. Chamber of CommerceCourt records,] ''OpenSecrets.org''.</ref> *In 2005, $39.8 million total was spent by internal corporate documents and media reports indicate that the Chamber and the ILR; $20 million for engaged in a massive campaign to affect the Chamber outcome of state and $19.8 million for ILR.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2005&txtname=US+Chamber+of+Commerce Lobbying database, 2005: U.S. Chamber of Commerce,] ''OpenSecrets.org''.</ref>*In 2004, $53.4 million total was spent by the Chamber federal races through direct expenditures and ILR; $28.8 million for grants made to organizations that carried out the Chamber and $24.5 million for ILRChamber’s wishes."<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2004&txtnamename=US+Chamber+of+Commerce Lobbying database, 2004: U.S. Chamber of Commerce,] ''OpenSecrets.org''<"shell"/ref>*In 2003, $34.6 million total was spent by the Chamber and ILR. For the period 7/1/03 to 6/30/04 they spent $47.8 million.*In 2002, $41.56 million total was spent by the Chamber and ILR. For the period 7/1/02 to 6/30/03 they spent $45.6 million.*In 2001, $20.6 million total was spent by the Chamber and ILR. For the period 7/1/01 to 6/30/02 they spent $25.9 million.
==The Chamber and large corporations==The Chamber claims to represent 3 million businesses, 96 percent of which are small, defined as having fewer than 100 employees. But the Chamber arrives at this figure by counting all businesses that are members of state and local chambers, which are independent organizations that pay a few hundreds dollars a year to affiliate with the U.S. Chamber for discounts and other programs and have no say over the national group's political activities, its lobbying, or endorsements. The U.S. Chamber's membership is actually about 300,000 businesses, and the ChamberPublic Citizen''s boardroom is mostly representatives of large corporations. Its 125-member board includes representatives of just two local chambers and a handful of small businesses. The rest are primarily from large corporations, like [[Pfizer]], [[Alcoa]], and [[JP Morgan Chase]]. In 2008, one-third of the $147 million the group raised came from just 19 companies.reported that<ref name=sm>Stacy Mitchell, [http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/will-the-real-voice-of-small-business-please-stand-up "Will the Real Voice of Small Business Please Stand Up?"] Yes! Nov. 2, 2010.</ref> In 2010, the watchdog group U.S. ChamberWatch used a disclosure law to see the Chamber's [[IRS 990]] form. It showed that 55 percent of its funding came from just 16 companies, each of which gave more than a million dollars.<ref>Bill McKibben, [http://www.grist.org/article/2011-02-22-the-u.s.-chamber-of-commerce-darkens-the-skies "The Chamber of Commerce is darkening our skiesshell"] Grist, Feb. 22, 2011.</ref> (Exactly which companies is unknown. U. S. law requires the Chamber to list amounts given on its annual tax return, but it is not obligated to disclose names.)<ref name=sm/>
==Alleged spying on critics==In 2010, [[Aaron Barr]], CEO :"The Chamber and ILR also failed to report grants and allocations to outside groups as required by Line 22 of the technology security company [[HBGary]] FederalIRS Form 990. Both organizations reported no grants to outside groups from 2000 to 2004. But in a 2005 deposition, alleged a Chamber official acknowledged that he could exploit social media the Chamber had partnered with at least six outside groups to gather information about hackers like those who supported [[WikiLeaks]]advance its agenda to avoid garnering unwanted critical attention. In early 2011At least two 501(c) organizations, Barr claimed to have used his techniques to infiltrate the Washington-based [[Wikileaks]American Taxpayers Alliance] supporter [[Anonymous]], partly by using IRC, Facebook, Twitter, and social networking sites. His e-mails depict his intention to release information on the identities of Anonymous members and to sell it to possible clients.<ref name="arstechnicacom1">[http://arstechnica.com/techColumbus-policy/news/2011/02/how-one-security-firm-tracked-anonymousand-paid-a-heavy-price.ars How one man tracked down Anonymous - and paid a heavy price] By Nate Anderson, updated 2-10-2011, Ars Technica, retr 2011-02-11</ref> In early February of 2011, the activist group based [[AnonymousCitizens for a Strong Ohio]] hacked the firm's website, copied tens reported receipt of thousands of documents contributions from HBGary, posted tens of thousands of company emails online, and usurped Barr's Twitter accountthe U.<ref name="arstechnicacom2">{{cite web| last=Bright|first=Peter| title=Anonymous speaks: the inside story of the HBGary hack| url=http://arstechnicaS.com/tech-policy/news/2011/02/anonymous-speaks-the-inside-story-of-the-hbgary-hackChamber.ars/ |work=Law & Disorder: Tech Law and Policy in the Digital Age |publisher=Ars Technica| accessdate=18 February 2011| location=San Francisco| date=2011-02-15}}</ref>"
According to some of HBGary's e-mails==Affiliated Centers, the [[Chamber of Commerce]] hired the lobbying firm [[Hunton & Williams]]Organizations, and attorneys for the law firm then solicited a set of private security firms — HB Gary Federal, Palantir, and Berico Technologies (collectively called Team Themis) — to develop a sabotage campaign against progressive groups and labor unions, including the group [[ThinkProgress]], the labor coalition [[Change to Win]], the labor union [[SEIU]], [[U.S. Chamber Watch]], and [[StopTheChamber.com]]. Later emails revealed that the private spy company investigated the families and children of the Chamber’s political opponents. The apparent spearhead of this project was Aaron Barr, who circulated numerous emails and documents detailing information about political opponents’ children, spouses, and personal lives.<ref>Joseph Romm, [http://climateprogress.org/2011/02/13/shocker-chamber-of-commerce-lobbyists-solicited-firm-to-investigate-opponents’-families-children/ "Bombshell: Chamber of Commerce lobbyists solicited firm to investigate opponents’ families, children"] ThinkProgress, Feb. 13, 2011.</ref>Campaigns==
On February 10, 2011, the Chamber As of Commerce issued a statement denying they hired HBGary,August 2015:<ref name="commerce1">{{cite web| last=Collamore |first=Tom| title=More Baseless Attacks on the Chamber| url=http://wwwU.chamberpostS.com/2011/02/more-baseless-attacks-on-the-chamber/| publisher=US Chamber of Commerce| accessdate=18 February 2011| work=Chamber Post |location=Washington | date=2011-02-10}}</ref> calling the allegation a "baseless smear", and blaming the [[Center for American Progress]] and its blog, [[ThinkProgress]] for "the illusion of a connection between HBGary, its CEO Aaron Barr and the Chamber."<ref name="commerce2">{{cite web| last=Collamore |first=Tom| title=Another Smear from the Center for American Progress| url=httphttps://www.chamberpostuschamber.com/2011Homepage/02/another-smear-from-the-center-for-american-progress/| publisher=US Chamber of Commerce| accessdate=18 February 2011| work=Chamber Post |location=Washington | date=2011-02-11}}Programs], organizational website, accessed August 2015.</ref>
==Chamber campaigns==*[[Campaign for Free Enterprise]]In June, 2011 the Chamber enlisted former White House Chief of Staff under President Bush *[[Andrew CardCenter for Advanced Technology and Innovation]], and Democratic former Indiana Senator *[[Evan BayhCenter for Capital Markets Competitiveness]] to put on a national "road show" to rally businesses to oppose government regulations. The road show is being handled by Chamber employee *[[Thomas CollamoreCenter for Education and Workforce]], who formerly was a vice president of *[[Philip Morris Corporate AffairsCenter for International Private Enterprise]], the department at PM that was responsible *[[Center for thwarting national efforts to reduce tobacco use. The Chamber planned to formally announce the Bayh and Card road show on June 22, 2011, and then start flying the two around the country Women in a push to gather support for reducing regulations designed to protect the environment, consumers and workers. The Chamber plans to fight the Business]]*[[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency'sCorporate Citizenship Center]] efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, push to minimize the power of the recently-created *[[Consumer Financial Protection BureauEssential Worker Immigration Coalition]], block implementation (EWIC) member*[[Friends of the U.S. Chamber]]*[[Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHAGlobal Intellectual Property Center]] workplace safety and health programs(GIPC), hamper employees' ability to join unionsDavid Hirschmann, President and make other pro-business reforms. The Chamber has CEO<ref>GIPC, "[http://www.iwatchnewstheglobalipcenter.orgcom/2010about/12staff/01/2282/chamber-seeks-cash-insurers-financial-firms-new-effort/page/0/1 spent monthsStaff] soliciting millions of dollars in funding for this anti-regulatory effort from Wall Street financial firms, insurance and energy companies" organizational website, accessed August 2015. </ref>Peter H*[[Hiring Our Heroes]]*[[Institute for 21st Century Energy]]*[[Institute for Legal Reform]]*[[Institute for Organizational Management]] (IOM)*[[Let's Rebuild America]]*[[U. Stone S. Chamber Litigation Center]]*[[Native American Enterprise Initiative]]*[http://www[Small Business Nation]]*[[U.iwatchnewsS.org/2011/06/07/4825/chamber-commerce-hires-odd-couple-evan-bayh-and-andy-card-anti-regs-roadshow Chamber of Commerce hires odd couple Evan Bayh and Andy Card for anti-regs roadshowFoundation]] IWatchNews, June 7, 2011</ref>
==Affiliated centers / organizations==
*[[Essential Worker Immigration Coalition]] (EWIC) member<ref>[http://www.ewic.org/Membershiplist.asp Membership list,] EWIC.org.</ref>*[[Global Intellectual Property Center]] (GIPC), [[Caroline Joiner]], executive director<ref name="fibre"/>*[[Global Regulatory Cooperation Project]]<ref>[[Deborah Platt Majoras]], [http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/majoras/070717coc.pdf Remarks of Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission,] before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the launch of its Global Regulatory Cooperation Project, July 17, 2007,.</ref>
*[[Institute for Organizational Management]] (IOM), Athens, Georgia
Also see the lists For a full list of regional vice chairmen;<ref>[http://www.uschamber.com/about/board/regional.htm Regionalmembers,] USChamber.com, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref> the senior council;<ref>see [httphttps://www.uschamber.com/about-us/board/senior.htm Senior,] USChamber.com, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref> and all members of the board of -directors.<ref>[http://www.uschamber.com/about/board/all.htm All,here] USChamber.com, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref>
{{reflist|2}}<references/>
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==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a member of has ties to the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) as of 2011. It is has been a member of the [[Civil Justice Task Force]],<ref name="MeetingAgenda">American Legislative Exchange Council, Civil Justice Task Force Meeting Agenda, August 5, 2011, on file with CMD</ref> the [[Education Task Force]],<ref name="EdMeetingAgenda">American Legislative Exchange Council, "Education Task Force Meeting," agenda and meeting materials, August 5, 2011, on file with CMD</ref> the [[International Relations Task Force]]<ref name="IRMeetingAgenda">American Legislative Exchange Council, International and Federal Relations Task Force meeting and Federal Relations Working Group, meeting agenda and materials, August 4, 2011, on file with CMD</ref><ref name="ALECboard">American Legislative Exchange Council, [https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/841593/alec-docs.pdf ALEC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting Board Meeting packet], organizational documents, August 6, 2013, released by ''The Guardian'' December 3, 2013.</ref> and the [[Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force]],<ref name="TITMeetingAgenda">American Legislative Exchange Council, "Telecommunications & Information Technology Task Force Meeting," agenda and meeting materials, August 5, 2011, on file with CMD</ref> according to 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting materials.According to an August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by ''The Guardian'', its Campaign for Free Enterprise terminated its membership in ALEC's [[Education Task Force]] on April 22, 2013. Its Institute for Legal Reform, however, had also been part of this task force, and was not listed as "lapsed" or "terminated."<ref name="ALECboard"/>
Page Faulk, Vice President,<ref>LinkedIn, [http://www.linkedin.com/pub/page-faulk/6/315/922 Page Faulk], online business profile, accessed August 31, 2011</ref> presented "The Promoting Merit in 'Merit Selection' Act" model legislation at [[Civil Justice Task Force]] Meeting at the 2011 meeting.<ref name="MeetingAgenda"/> Stanton D. Anderson, Senior Counsel to the President and Chief Executive Officer,<ref>Stanton D. Anderson, [http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/testimony/chamberacprivilegeanderson111405.pdf Testimony to the U.S. Sentencing Commission], U.S. Chamber of Commerce document, November 14, 2005, accessed September 2, 2011</ref> issued remarks on the "Free Enterprise Education Act" model legislation, and Roberta Philips sponsored discussion and voting on the act, at the [[Education Task Force]] Meeting of the 2011 meeting.<ref name="EdMeetingAgenda"/> Mark Elliot, Executive Vice President, and Andrew Kovalcin, Director of Stakeholder Advocacy, both of the Chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center, introduced the "Resolution in Support of Federal Efforts to Address Rogue Internet Sites that Sell Counterfeit Products and Facilitate Digital Theft" at the [[Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force]] Meeting<ref name="TITMeetingAgenda"/> and presented on the "Erosion of Intellectual Property" and introduced the "ALEC Resolution to Counter Rogue Internet Sites" model policy at the [[International Relations Task Force]] Meeting at the 2011 meeting.<ref name="IRMeetingAgenda">American Legislative Exchange Council, International and Federal Relations Task Force meeting and Federal Relations Working Group, meeting agenda and materials, August 4, 2011, on file with CMD</ref>
The Chamber's International Division joined ALEC's [[International Relations Task Force]] on July 3, 2013, according to ALEC board materials.<ref name="ALECboard"/>
{{about_ALEC}}
==Council of State Chambers==
The [[Council of State Chambers]] (COSC) is a little known 501(c)(6) organization<ref name="2014 990"> Council of State Chambers of Commerce, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/350/827/2014-350827885-0c228925-9O.pdf IRS Form 990 2014], ''Internal Revenue Service'', November 13, 2015.</ref> that helps the top lobbyists for state chambers of commerce get on message about the national political agenda of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It works closely with the U.S. Chamber, which is a member along with most state chambers.<ref name="Mary article"> Mary Bottari, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13074/luntz-poll-american-ceos-shows-deep-support-progressive-policies Highlights of Luntz Poll of American CEOs Shows Broad Support for Progressive Policies], ''The Center for Media and Democracy'', April 4, 2016.</ref>
According to its website, "The Council of State Chambers (COSC) is the national organization for state chamber CEOs and their executive leadership. The purpose of COSC is to promote cooperation among state chambers of commerce, strengthen existing state chambers, and promote the extensions of the state chamber of commerce movement throughout the country."<ref> Council of State Chambers, [http://www.statechambers.org/ Home page], organizational website, accessed April 28, 2016.</ref> The group is part of an extremely powerful network of organizations that serve, effectively, as arms of the U.S Chamber.
In 2016, the Center for Media and Democracy released a COSC poll of the nation's top executives that showed that they supported raising the minimum wage, paid sick days, predictive scheduling, maternity and paternity leave, and other progressive policies (see below). These documents were also reported in the ''Washington Post''.<ref> Lydia DePillis, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/04/leaked-documents-show-strong-business-support-for-raising-the-minimum-wage/ Leaked documents show strong business support for raising the minimum wage], ''The Washington Post'', April 4, 2016.</ref>
For more information on the Council of State Chambers see the Sourcewatch page [[Council of State Chambers|here]].
===Luntz Global Poll of Executives and CEOs Exposed in 2016===
{{#ev:youtube|v=4CtmWcvX81E|200|right|Exposed by CMD: The Chambers of Commerce|frame|}}
On April 4, 2016 the Center for Media and Democracy, publisher of Sourcewatch.org, released documents that it obtained from a top GOP polling firm, [[Frank Luntz|Luntz Global]], which show widespread support from the Chamber's members for policies such as an increase in the minimum wage, paid sick leave, paid paternity and paid maternity leave.
The polling showed that 80 percent of the state chambers' own business members supported minimum wage increases, while 73 percent support [[Paid Sick Days|paid sick time]]. Yet over the last three years 48 state chambers have publicly opposed minimum wage increases. And in the last 5 years, 75 percent of the country's state chambers have opposed paid sick leave policies. Both measures are explicitly opposed in the U.S. Chamber's 2016 policy platform.
"This webinar reveals just how deeply corporate interests and their lobbyists are influencing the priorities of state Chambers of Commerce, even when that agenda contradicts the opinions of their local business members," said Lisa Graves, executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy. "Rather than listening to its members and crafting a policy agenda that reflects their priorities, Chamber lobbyists pick their policy positions behind closed doors and then figure out how to convince their members to fall in line." She added, "It's a warped, undemocratic process, and the Chambers should be held accountable for their claims to the public, press, and elected officials that businesses oppose raising the minimum wage, paid sick leave, increased family and medical leave and other common sense policies, when in fact substantial majorities of business executives actually support these public policies."<ref name="Editor article"> PRWatch Editors, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/04/13075/top-gop-pollster-chamber-commerce-lobbyists-poll-shows-your-members-support Exposed: Most CEOs Support Paid Sick Leave, Increased Minimum Wage, and More But Chamber Lobbyists Told How to "Combat" These Measures], ''The Center for Media and Democracy'', April 4, 2016.</ref>
====Key Documents====
*[https://www.prwatch.org/files/cmd_prwatch_markup_of_01-05-16_state_chambers_topline_poll.pdf The poll, marked up by CMD]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CtmWcvX81E Short video on the webinar by CMD]
*[https://www.prwatch.org/files/01-10-2016_cmd_mark_up_of_cosc_presentation.pdf Copy of the slideshow marked up by CMD]
*[https://www.prwatch.org/files/03-31-16_luntz_poll_transcript_re_business_support_for_increasing_minimum_wage_and_other_policies.pdf Transcript of the webinar, highlighted by CMD]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoafI3hfzmg Full version of the webinar]
*[https://www.prwatch.org/files/03-31-2016_cmd_on_chambers_whos_who_re_webinar.pdf Information about who spoke during the webinar]
*[https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/04/13075/top-gop-pollster-chamber-commerce-lobbyists-poll-shows-your-members-support CMD's press release] summarizing key information about the materials
*[https://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13074/luntz-poll-american-ceos-shows-deep-support-progressive-policies Analysis of the polling results by CMD]
*[http://www.npr.org/2016/04/06/473244707/from-fracking-bans-to-paid-sick-leave-how-states-are-overruling-local-laws Interview on NPR's Fresh Air] about the materials and the efforts to preempt local efforts to increase the minimum wage, paid sick, family leave, predictive scheduling and other popular measures
====About Luntz Global====
Luntz Global is a prominent GOP polling and communications firm headed by [[Frank Luntz]]. Its website states: "Our analysis of the results will help you learn exactly what your target audience wants and needs to hear."<ref> Luntz Global, [http://www.luntzglobal.com/ Home page], business website, accessed April 29, 2016.</ref>
===2010 Midterm Elections:"The Chamber and ILR also failed to report grants and allocations to outside groups as required by Line 22 One of IRS Form 990. Both organizations reported no grants to outside groups from 2000 to 2004. But in a 2005 deposition, a Chamber official acknowledged that the Chamber had partnered with at least six outside groups to advance its agenda to avoid garnering unwanted critical attention. At least two 501(c) organizations, the Washington-based [[American Taxpayers Alliance]] and the Columbus-based [[Citizens for a Strong Ohio]], reported receipt of contributions from the U.S. Chamber."Top Spenders===
In the 2010 election cycle, the U.S. Chamber "spent nearly $33 million on electioneering communications, making it the biggest spender among organizations that were not national party committees," according to the Center for Responsive Politics.<ref name="open secrets profile">Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000019798 U.S. elections=====2010 Midterm Elections===Chamber of Commerce], organizational profile, accessed August 2015.</ref>
The Chamber claimed it offered support to all pro-business candidates, regardless of party affiliation. However, according to a report from the union-backed Chamber Watch, "[i]t worked almost exclusively to elect Republicans in the powerful Senate, giving one lone endorsement to a Democrat, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, on whom it made no expenditures. On the House side, the Chamber created an appearance of bipartisanship by spending on behalf of eleven Democrats. But the Chamber’s support for Democratic members was razor-thin, and sometimes, the Chamber withheld support altogether, even where Democratic members worked hard to earn the Chamber’s approval." <ref name= "chamber watch report"> November 2010, [http://fixtheuschamber.org/sites/default/files/a_u.s._chamber_watch_report_-_november_2010_0.pdf US Chamber of Commerce: Leading the Charge in Electing a Republican Congress], a report by U.S. Chamber Watch.</ref>
In 2008, Chamber President Tom Donahue told the ''Los Angeles Times'' that he wanted to get very involved with elections. '"Alarmed at the increasingly populist tone of the 2008 political campaign, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is set to issue a fiery promise to spend millions of dollars to defeat candidates deemed to be anti-business. "'We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," ' chamber President Tom Donohue said.'"<ref>Tom Hamburger, "[http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-chamber8jan08,0,4301350.story?coll=la-politics-campaign Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates]", ''Los Angeles Times'', January 8, 2008.</ref>
According to the a 2010 U.S. Chamber Watch [http://fixtheuschamber.org/sites/default/files/a_u.s._chamber_watch_report_-_november_2010_0.pdf report]:
:"The U.S. Chamber first began to coordinate massive Republican resources when its general counsel, Steven Law, met with Ed Gillespie, Republican political strategist and former Counselor to President George W. Bush. According to the Associated Press, Law met with Gillespie in October of 2009, “calculating how to exploit the voter anger they had seen erupt at Democratic town hall meetings that summer.” <ref>Jim Kuhnhenn, [http://www.googleboston.com/hostednewsnews/apnation/articlearticles/2010/10/26/big_money_outside_groups_spending_for_republicans/ALeqM5idlgcpzokxQM-Dde2ME1MFJUaj6Q?docId=464f77259c2a4642a557cc7acec5a39a Big money: Outside groups spending for Republicans], Associated PressBoston.com, October 26, 2010.</ref>
:It was at this meeting that they conceived of [[American Crossroads]] an organization, that according to its website, is dedicated to “renewing America’s commitment to individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and a strong national defense.” Law left the U.S. Chamber to serve as the group’s CEO.
According to Think Progress:
:“At every turn, from the operatives running the two organizations to their targeted races to their media firms, American Crossroads and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are bound to one another…the two groups have exhibited uncanny coordination in their election targeting. In a number of Senate races, the Chamber and American :Crossroads coordinated their advertisements – one group put up ads in a race as the other group pulled its own down – in :order to ensure attack ads were always running against the Democratic candidate.” <ref> Scott Keyes, [http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/07/chamber-commerce-crossroads/ Kissing Cousins: How The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce And American Crossroads Hook Up To Elect Republicans] , Think Progress, October 7, 2010. </ref>
==== Post-Election Backlash ====
The U.S. Chamber's partisan, corporate-funded (and often [http://mediamattersaction.org/search/tag/u_s__chamber_of_commerce untrue]) campaign attacks have compelled many local Chambers of Commerce to disassociate from the U.S. Chamber. <ref>Elspeth Reeve, [http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Local-Branches-Leave-Chamber-of-Commerce-as-It-Lurches-Rightward-6085 Local Branches Leave Chamber of Commerce as it Lurches Rightward], The Atlantic Wire, Dec. 07, 2010 (compiling stories from several sources).</ref> Despite the U.S. Chamber's attempts to portray itself as a community of small businesses and local Chambers of Commerce, the interests the U.S. Chamber served in the 2010 elections were those of its large corporate donors. More than 40 local chambers issued statements during the campaign distancing themselves from the U.S. Chamber, including chambers in the "battleground states" of Iowa and New Hampshire. Some chambers are considering what Politico calls the "extraordinary" step of ending their affiliation with the U.S. Chamber and quitting in protest. <ref> Jeanne Cummings, [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46049.html Angry Member Groups Shun U.S. Chamber of Commerce], Politico, Dec. 7, 2010.</ref> ==Large Corporations and Contributors Dominate U.S. Chamber== ===Report: Large Contributions Form Bulk of Chamber Funding (2014)=== A 2014 report by Public Citizen, "The Gilded Chamber: Despite Claims of Representing Millions of Businesses, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Gets Most of Its Money From Just 64 Donors," analyzed the 1,619 contributions listed by the Chamber and its affiliate working against consumer access to courts, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), on their 2012 Form 990 tax returns. Just a tiny fraction of their donors account for most of their contributions, the report found. The average reported contribution to the U.S. Chamber was $111,254, with the top 43 entities donating a combined $80.4 million. "The U.S. Chamber is one of the largest conduits of dark money in the country, but it refuses to disclose its donors," said Lisa Gilbert, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, where U.S. Chamber Watch is housed. "The American people deserve to know more about who’s influencing this powerful force in our politics. By looking at the size of the Chamber’s and ILR’s donations, we can learn a little more about what kinds of businesses they represent – seemingly, very large ones."<ref>"[http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/02/06-1 Majority of Donations to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Given by Just 64 Entities]," ''Common Dreams'', February 7, 2014.</ref> ===Large Corporations Dominate Membership=== The Chamber claims to represent 3 million businesses, 96 percent of which are small, defined as having fewer than 100 employees. But the Chamber arrives at this figure by counting all businesses that are members of state and local chambers, which are independent organizations that pay a few hundreds dollars a year to affiliate with the U.S. Chamber for discounts and other programs and have no say over the national group's political activities, its lobbying, or endorsements. The U.S. Chamber's membership is actually about 300,000 businesses, and the Chamber's boardroom is mostly representatives of large corporations. Its 125-member board includes representatives of just two local chambers and a handful of small businesses. The rest are primarily from large corporations, like [[Pfizer]], [[Alcoa]], and [[JP Morgan Chase]]. In 2008, one-third of the $147 million the group raised came from just 19 companies.<ref name=sm>Stacy Mitchell, [http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/will-the-real-voice-of-small-business-please-stand-up Will the Real Voice of Small Business Please Stand Up?], Yes! Magazine, Nov. 2, 2010.</ref> In 2010, the watchdog group U.S. ChamberWatch used a disclosure law to see the Chamber's [[IRS 990]] form. It showed that 55 percent of its funding came from just 16 companies, each of which gave more than a million dollars.<ref>Bill McKibben, [http://www.grist.org/article/2011-02-22-the-u.s.-chamber-of-commerce-darkens-the-skies The Chamber of Commerce is darkening our skies], Grist, Feb. 22, 2011.</ref> (Exactly which companies is unknown. U. S. law requires the Chamber to list amounts given on its annual tax return, but it is not obligated to disclose names.)<ref name=sm/> In 2010, chambers in San Antonio, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut began publicly moving away from the U.S. Chamber, disavowing the 2010 political attack ads that the U.S. Chamber had been broadcasting in their communities. Newer chambers, like the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, have declined to affiliate with the national group and have been among its most vocal critics: "They get the majority of their funding from big businesses. That's who drives their decisions," explains Executive Director Frank Knapp, noting that, unlike the U. S. Chamber, his group supported the health care bill and financial reform, and favors legislation to curb [[global warming]].<ref name=sm/> == Opposition to Addressing Climate Change == {{Template:AntiEnvironmentalArchives}} ===Chamber Distributes Books on Energy to Children (2010)=== In 2010, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined with [[Scholastic]] Books to distribute roughly 100,000 books about the potential perils of government fossil fuel regulation to classrooms across the country, as part of its "Shedding Light on Energy" campaign. The book asks, “What do you think could happen if one of our energy sources was suddenly unavailable (e.g., power plant maintenance, government curb on production, etc.)?” Chamber officials maintained that there was no “hidden agenda” behind the question or the educational outreach effort in general, although the book was being distributed at a time when the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] was set to regulate [[greenhouse gas]] emissions.<ref name=jv>Josh Voorhees, [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43844.html#ixzz14oxFHwth "Chamber: Worry about energy regulations, kids"] Politico, Oct. 19, 2010.</ref> The energy industry has a long history of working to get its perspective into classrooms. In the 1970s, for example, [[nuclear power]] officials distributed comic books in schools as it dealt with the [[PR]] fallout from the near meltdown at [[Three Mile Island]]. And [[BP]] helped develop environmental lesson plans in California, the ''Sacramento Bee'' reported last month. The posters and worksheets that the Chamber was sending out to schools aross the country was based on statistics from the U.S. [[Energy Information Administration]], and the assignments were mostly aimed at teaching students how to use charts and graphs to convey where U.S. energy comes from and how it is used.<ref name=jv/> ===Opposition to Climate Change Legislation (2009)=== In 2009, the Chamber of Commerce lobbied against climate change legislation introduced by Congress. In describing its strategy, the Chamber said it would "resist ill-conceived legislation that is economically disruptive of business and industry activities, that creates regulatory and legislative obstacles to development and deployment of affordable, innovative energy technologies, and that could severely damage the security and economy of the United States."<ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce[http://www.uschamber.com/issues/index/environment/climatechange.htm Climate Change], organizational website, accessed May 24 2013.</ref> The chamber said it supported "mainstream, common sense views" on climate change, but that it opposed the [[Waxman-Markey Climate Bill]] passed by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009.<ref name="sciam">Deborah Zabarenko, [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=rift-at-us-chamber-of-com Rift at U.S. Chamber of Commerce over climate change], ''Scientific American,'' September 30, 2009.</ref> The group's opposition to the legislation caused a rift among its corporate members. A number of companies announced they were leaving the organization as a result of its stance on climate change regulations. Energy companies [[Exelon]], [[PG&E]], and [[PNM Resources]] all announced in September 2009 that they were quitting the Chamber.<ref>Keith Johnson, [http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/09/28/out-the-door-exelon-leaves-chamber-of-commerce-over-climate-policy/ Out the Door: Exelon Leaves Chamber of Commerce over Climate Policy]], ''Wall Street Journal,'' September 28, 2009.</ref> [[Apple Inc]] also resigned from the Chamber, saying in a statement, "We would prefer that the chamber take a more progressive stance on this critical issue and play a constructive role in addressing the climate crisis"<ref>Jenna Staul, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/apple-quits-chamber-of-co_n_310301.html?show_comment_id=32293735 Apple Quits Chamber Of Commerce Over Climate Change], Huffington Post, October 5, 2009.</ref> Sportswear company [[Nike]] also criticized the Chamber's challenge of the U.S. EPA's authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions as air pollution.<ref name="sciam"/> Nike said it would resign from the Chambers's board of directors, but that it would retain its membership to the organization in order to work for climate change legislation from inside the organization.<ref>Jenna Staul, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/nike-quits-chamber-of-com_n_304591.html Nike Quits Chamber Of Commerce Board Of Directors], Huffington Post, September 30, 2009.</ref> ===Citizen Action Against the Chamber of Commerce's Stance on Climate Change=== ====Yes Men Stage Fake Chamber of Commerce Press Conference (2009)===={{#ev:youtube|vYGcIhNGSIY|300|left|The Yes Men's fake press conference|frame}} On October 19, 2009, anti-corporate performance artists the Yes Men issued a fake press release on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, claiming that the Chamber had reversed its position on climate change would no longer lobby against the legislation. The activists managed to secure a room at the National Press Club to stage a press conference announcing the policy shift to reporters. The real Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Eric Wohlschlegel interrupted the event and declared the event a fraud. Afterwards, the Chamber threatened to push for a criminal investigation over the prank.<ref>Sam Stein, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/chamber-of-commerce-hoax_n_326069.html Yes Men Pull Off Chamber Of Commerce Hoax On Climate Change], Huffington Post, October 19, 2009.</ref> ====Grassroots Campaigns Against the Chamber==== '''CREDO Action''', part of the Working Assets company, launched a campaign against the Chamber's stance on climate change legislation. The group is organizing an effort to urge members of the lobbying group to resign, calling on them to "denounce the Chamber's extremist position on global warming and revoke your membership effective immediately."<ref>CREDO Action, [http://web.archive.org/web/20091011154305/http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/chamber_of_commerce/? Quit the Chamber. Join the Planet], organizational website - accessed Decby Wayback Machine, accessed October 2009.</ref> '''Velvet Revolution''' has also organized a campaign against the Chamber of Commerce, citing its stance on climate change among other reasons to call for a reform of the corporate lobbying group.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20091015095926/http://www.velvetrevolution.us/stop_chamber/ StopTheChamber. 8com], organizational website - accessed by Wayback Machine, 2010accessed October 2009. </ref> ==Labor Issues== ===Opposition to NLRB Joint Employer Decision (2014)===
The U.S. Chamber opposes the 2014 decision by the general counsel of the [[National Labor Relations Board]] (NLRB) that McDonald's is a joint employer, meaning that the company "could be held jointly liable for labor and wage violations by its franchise operators," according to the ''New York Times'',<ref>Steven Greenhouse, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/business/nlrb-holds-mcdonalds-not-just-franchisees-liable-for-worker-treatment.html McDonald’s Ruling Could Open Door for Unions]," ''New York Times'', July 29, 2014.</ref> and could also "give employees more leverage to unionize."<ref name="denounce ruling">Ernie Smith, "[http://associationsnow.com/2014/07/trade-groups-denounce-nlrb-mcdonalds-ruling/ Trade Groups Denounce NLRB Ruling]," ''Associations Now'', July 30, 2014.</ref>
'''Velvet Revolution''' has See also organized a campaign against the Chamber of Commerce, citing its stance on climate change among other reasons to call for a reform of the corporate lobbying group.<ref>Sourcewatch article [[http://wwwPaid Sick Days]].velvetrevolution.us/stop_chamber/ StopTheChamber.com,] accessed October '' ===Employee Free Choice Act (2009.</ref>)===
In the 2009 debate over the [[Employee Free Choice Act]] (EFCA), a bill that would make it easier for workers to join a union, "both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the [[AFL-CIO]] are focusing on grassroots outreach," reported ''PR Week''. Before the bill was introduced, "the Chamber launched the [http://www.workforcefreedomairlift.com/wfi/airlift Workforce Freedom Airlift] program, a series of events that fly in local small business owners to Washington," to lobby against the bill. The first "airlift," on March 10, 2009, "brought in small business owners from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Nebraska, and Louisiana." Since July 2008, the Chamber has worked with [[Adfero Group]] on an anti-EFCA "social media effort," expanding "a [http://secretballot.voteforbusiness.net/join.php virtual march on Washington] that was created the last time the bill went to Congress in 2007." It "allows users to register for the march as avatars and send an automatic letter to their elected officials through a [[Facebook]] application." <ref>Jaimy Lee, "[http://www.prweekus.com/Sides-in-card-check-debate-intensify-PR-efforts/article/129136/ Sides in 'card check' debate intensify PR efforts]," ''PR Week'', March 20, 2009.</ref>
In April 2009, the Chamber launched a "$1 million television advertising campaign that takes a new line of attack against the Employee Free Choice Act, highlighting a provision that would allow federal arbitrators to set the rules for unionization if management and employees fail to negotiate their own deal." The ads "will hit the airwaves in Nebraska, Virginia, Louisiana, North Dakota and Colorado -- states whose senators could be swing votes." Previous attacks on the bill, from the Chamber and corporate [[front groups]] like the [[Coalition for a Democratic Workplace]] and [[Employee Freedom Action Committee]], claimed it would get rid of secret ballot elections. The bill would actually allow employees to form unions either by holding elections or signing cards. Although the "no secret ballot" claims are inaccurate, they've been effective, accorting to the ''Wall Street Journal''. The "more than $30 million on TV ads [spent by business groups] in the past few years portraying the secret-ballot provision as antidemocratic ... pressured several key senators to reverse their prior support, leaving the bill several senators short of 60 votes." <ref>Brody Mullins, "[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123957945300612075.html New Ads Intensify Fight on Union Bill]," ''Wall Street Journal'' (sub req'd), April 13, 2009.</ref>
===VoteForBusiness (2007)=== "Under Donohue’s leadership, the Chamber has also emerged as a major player in election politics, helping elect congressional pro-business candidates through financial support and voter activism and turnout generated through the Chamber’s grassroots organization," [[political action committee|Political action committeeVoteForBusiness]],<ref name="Don">[http://www.uschamber.com/about/management/donohue.htm Management: Donohue,] U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accessed October 22, 2007.</ref> billed as "Your One-Stop Political Action, Education, and Involvement Tool". Websites: http://www.voteforbusiness.net/ and http://www.voteforbusiness.com<br> ===Political Action Committee, The November Fund (2004)===
The Chamber sponsored [[The November Fund]], a [[527 committee]] that opposes opposed what it describes described as frivolous lawsuits and trial lawyers and ran negative campaign advertisements against trial lawyer [[John Edwards]], [[John Kerry]]'s running mate during the [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential race]].
===VoteForBusiness=U.S. Chamber-Backed Media Outlets==
==Law=====Law firmIllinois ''Madison County Record'' Created by U.S. Chamber===
The ''Washington Post'' noted a "recent front page [that] carried an assortment of stories about lawsuits against businesses. In one, a woman sought $15,000 in damages for breaking her nose at a haunted house. In another, a woman sued a restaurant for $50,000 after she hurt her teeth on a chicken breast... Nowhere was it reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce created the ''Record'' as a weapon in its multimillion-dollar campaign against lawyers who file those kinds of suits."<ref name===Legal reform==="suit"/>
===Opposing "activist judges"===In late May 2005, the National Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform President [[Lisa Rickard]] announced it was going to "reign in activist attorneys general."<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060718120423/http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=48082 News Release: "U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform: Rein in Activist State Attorneys General; Curb 'Regulation through Litigation' and Contingency Fee Deals,"] USNewswire, May 26, 2005.</ref> At a Chamber-sponsored conference examining the "appropriate role" of a state attorney general, several speakers "complained that 'Spitzerism' has become a dangerous model for ambitious regulators," refering to New York AG [[Eliot Spitzer]].<ref>Barrie McKenna, [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050527/IBACTIVIST27/TPBusiness/International "Corporate America declares war on 'Spitzerism',"] ''The Globe and Mail'' Center (Toronto, Canada2006), May 27, 2005.</ref>===
"The [[National Chamber Litigation Center]], the Chamber’s law firm, has become more aggressive in challenging anti-business measures in court, setting a new record for cases entered in each of the last six years and securing 48 court victories in 2006."<ref name====''Madison County Record'' (Illinois)===="Don"/>
In late May 2005, the Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform President [[Lisa Rickard]] announced it was going to "reign in activist attorneys general."<ref>USNewswire, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060718120423/http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id==Trade=====TradeRoots===48082 News Release: U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform: Rein in Activist State Attorneys General; Curb 'Regulation through Litigation' and Contingency Fee Deals], press release, May 26, 2005.</ref> At a Chamber-sponsored conference examining the "appropriate role" of a state attorney general, several speakers "complained that 'Spitzerism' has become a dangerous model for ambitious regulators," refering to New York AG [[Eliot Spitzer]].<ref>Barrie McKenna, [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050527/IBACTIVIST27/TPBusiness/International Corporate America declares war on 'Spitzerism'], ''The Globe and Mail'' (Toronto, Canada), May 27, 2005.</ref>
The Chamber has focused on tobacco regulation in the US and globally and has longstanding ties to the tobacco industry.<ref>R.J. Reynolds, "[https://industrydocuments.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#id=rzgh0099 1957 Annual Report]," corporate report, February 1, 1958. Archived by Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, University of California San Francisco, accessed August 2015. See pdf p. 8.</ref><ref>Eric Bradner, "[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/tobacco-plan-puts-us-trade-representative-in-crossfire-95856.html Tobacco plan puts U.S. trade representative in crossfire]," ''Politico'', August 23, 2013.</ref> The Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform has focused on part on tobacco litigation and settlements.<ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "[https://industrydocuments.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#id==TheTrueCostsynxm0052 U.S. CHAMBER TARGETS EXCESSIVE LEGAL FEES; FILES FOIA REQUESTS ON TOBACCO SETTLEMENTS IN 21 STATES]," press release, March 14, 2001.org===</ref>
The energy industry has a long history of working to get its perspective into classrooms. In the 1970s, for exampleChamber's "three-pronged strategy" includes lobbying foreign legislatures against anti-smoking laws, [[nuclear power]] officials distributed comic books pitting countries against each other in schools as it dealt with the [[PR]] fallout from the near meltdown at [[Three Mile Island]]. And [[BP]] helped develop environmental lesson plans in Californiatrade forums, the Sacramento Bee reported last month. The posters and worksheets that protecting the Chamber will be sending out tobacco industry's ability to sue countries who dare to schools aross regulate tobacco under international trade agreements. Its campaign includes arguing about the country is lack of "science-based on statistics from evidence" that larger warning labels would deter smoking, that antismoking laws would harm the U.S. [[Energy Information Administration]]economy, and increasing cigarette taxes would foster the assignments are mostly aimed at teaching students how to use charts and graphs to convey where U.S. energy comes from and how it is usedblack market.<ref name=jv"chamber works globally"/>
===National gas taxChamber's Board Includes Hospitals and Insurers Who Support Anti-Smoking Measures (2015)===
On February 10, 2011, the Chamber of Commerce issued a statement denying they hired HBGary, calling the allegation a "baseless smear", and blaming the [[Center for American Progress]] and its blog, [[ThinkProgress]] for "the illusion of a connection between HBGary, its CEO Aaron Barr and the Chamber."<ref name===Social Security==="commerce1">The Tom Collamore, [http://www.chamberpost.com/2011/02/more-baseless-attacks-on-the-chamber/ More Baseless Attacks on the Chamber also has a role in promoting President George W], Free Enterprise, February 10, 2011. Bush's plan to </ref><ref name="commerce2">TomCollamore, [[Uhttp://www.Schamberpost. Social Security privatization|privatize Social Security]com/2011/02/another-smear-from-the-center-for-american-progress/ Another Smear from the Center for American Progress], Free Enterprise, February 11, 2011.</ref>
==Lobbying spendingAccusations of Tax Fraud and Money Laundering==
===2010 Complaint===In September, 2010, two national watchdog groups, [[U.S. Chamber Watch]] and [http://www.velvetrevolution.us/stop_chamber/ StopTheChamber.com], filed complaints with the U.S. [[Internal Revenue Service]] asking the agency to investigate the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] for criminal fraud and money laundering. The groups allege that the Chamber illegally funneled donations from a wealthy charitable foundation into its political battles. Chamber Watch said that $12 million of an $18 million donation that the wealthy [[Starr Foundation]] [http://www.velvetrevolution.us/stop_chamber/images/irs_complaint_9_10_10.pdf gave] (pdf) gave to the National Chamber ranks first in lobbying spending Foundation was in the past decadeform of loans that have never been repaid. Chamber Watch says the money was diverted to finance political causes, with including [[General Electrictort reform]] ranking second at $161 million, according to shield companies like [[AIG]] from liability lawsuits. The [[Starr Foundation]] was founded by [[Cornelius Vander Starr]], the insurance entrepreneur who also founded [[Center for Responsive PoliticsAIG]]. The Foundation's Chairman of the Board of Directors is [[Maurice R. Greenberg]], former President and CEO of AIG. The Foundation's Director (and Treasurer) is Howard I.<ref>Dan MorainSmith, AIG's former Chief Financial Officer. StopTheChamber.com says it was contacted by a Chamber whistleblower [http://www.latimesvelvetrevolution.comus/newsstop_chamber/politicsimages/la-na-money18oct18,1,2554878COC_DOJ_Letter8410.pdf who described] (pdf) how Chamber CEO [[Tom Donohue]] is "scamming [business] clients to serve his own interests rather than the interests of the business community.story "Tinseltown filling campaign coffersThe insider compared Donohue to [[Jack Abramoff]] and [[Bernie Madoff]]. Democrats are reaping He also alleged that Donohue does not fear the benefits [[Federal Elections Commission]] or Congress, and has a plan set up to attack the [[U.S. Department of wealthy and glamorous donors while entertainment executives hope Justice]] if the agency ever tries to be heard in Washingtoninvestigate him.<ref>National Desk,"[http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/185296 Watchdog Groups Request Criminal Fraud and Money Laundering Investigations against The U.S. Chamber] , ''Los Angeles TimesAmerican Chronicle'', October 18September 15, 20072010.</ref>
The September charge echoed similar charges made earlier in the year, in January, 2010, that six of the largest health insurance companies in the U.S. had been secretly funneling millions of dollars to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to oppose health reform. The total amount in this instance was estimated at between $10 million and $20 million. According to a report in the ''Political Money LineNational Journal''online, the money was used "to help underwrite tens of millions of dollars of television ads by two business coalitions set up and subsidized by the chamber."<ref>Staff reports, [http://web.archive.org/web/20101007040736/http://www.politicalmoneylineappomattoxnews.com/ Political 2010/u-s-chamber-of-commerce-charged-with-money-laundering-tactics.html U.S. Chamber of Commerce Charged with Money LineLaundering Tactics], Appomattox News - Accessed via Wayback Machine, January 15, 2010.]</ref> highlighted in February 2005 that the Chamber and its Institute for Legal Reform reported combined spending of $53<ref>Peter H. Stone [http://web.archive.org/web/20100113034144/http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.38 million for lobbying the Executive and Legislative branches during 2004com/2010/01/health-insurers-funded-chamber. According to the watchdog websitephp Health Insurers Funded Chamber Attack Ads], "This is the ''largest twelveNationalJournal.com -month amount reported spent by any group''accessed via Wayback Machine, January 12, 2010."</ref>
:"In 20102000, chambers in San Antoniothe Chamber claimed it spent $6 million on judicial races and took credit for winning 15 out of 17 state supreme court contests. In 2002, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvaniathe Chamber said it planned to spend $40 million on political campaigns, divided equally between congressional and state-level attorneys general and Connecticut began publicly moving away judicial races. None of these activities were reported on their tax returns from the U2000 to 2003.S. Chamber :"In 2004, disavowing the 2010 political attack ads first year since at least 2000 that the U.S. Chamber had been broadcasting in their communities. Newer chambers, like and the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of CommerceILR reported political expenditures, have declined both organizations appear to affiliate with the national group and have been among its most vocal critics: "They get the majority of underreported their funding from big businessesspending. ThatThey reported a combined $18 million, but in a 'President's who drives their decisionsUpdate' memo released the day after the November elections," explains Executive Director Frank Knapp, noting that, unlike Chamber President Thomas Donohue claimed the U. S. Chamber, his group supported had spent up to $30 million in races around the health care bill and financial reform, and favors legislation to curb [[global warming]]country.<ref name=sm/>
===Archived===
*[[Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth]]
*[[Business Civic Leadership Center]] (BCLC)
*[[Institute for a Competitive Workforce]] (ICW), [[Jan Magill]], director of strategic partnerships<ref>Nell Luter Ford, [http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/BIZ/710210362/1005 "Still a job to do,"] ''The Clarion-Ledger'', October 21, 2007.</ref>
*[[Institute for Energy]]
*[[The Energy Initiative]]
*[[Particulate Matter Coalition]]
*[[Yucca Energy Solutions]]
==Personnel== ===Senior managementLeadership===The following are listed as members As of the Chamber's senior management.July 2015:<ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce, [http://www.uschamber.com/about/management/default Management,] USChamber.comorganizational website, accessed October 22July 31, 20072015.</ref> *[[Thomas J. Donohue]], President and CEO*[[David C. Chavern]], Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer*[[R. Bruce Josten]], Executive Vice President, Government Affairs*LTG (Ret.) [[Daniel W. Christman]], Senior Vice President, International Affairs *[[Thomas Collamore]], Senior Vice President Communications & Strategy and Counselor to the President *[[Shannon DiBari]], Senior Vice President, Human Resources*[[Carl Grant]], Chairman of the President's Advisory Group *[[Stan Harrell]], Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer *[[David Hirschmann]], Senior Vice President and Executive Vice President, National Chamber Foundation (NCF)*General [[James L. Jones]] USMC (ret.), President and CEO, Institute for Energy*[[Steven J. Law]], Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel*[[Rolf Lundberg]], Senior Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs*[[William C. Miller, Jr.]], Senior Vice President, Political Affairs & Federation Relations and National Political Director*[[Lisa Rickard]], President, Institute for Legal Reform*[[James Robinson]], Senior Vice President and Counselor to the President *[[Arthur J. Rothkopf]], Senior Vice President and Counselor to the President*[[Agnes Warfield]], Senior Vice President, Development
*[[Thomas J. Donohue]] - President and CEO*[[Shannon DiBari]] - Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President*[[Ann Beauchesne]] - Senior Vice President, National Security & Emergency Preparedness Department*[[Myron Brilliant]] - Executive Vice President and Head of International*[[Lily Fu Claffee]] - Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and General Counsel; Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber Litigation Center*[[Suzanne Clark]] - Executive Vice President*[[Thomas Collamore]] - Senior Vice President, Communications and Strategy and Counselor to the President*[[Rob Engstrom]] - Senior Vice President, Political Affairs & Federation Relations and National Political Director*[[Amanda Engstrom Eversole]] - Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff; Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness; Acting President, Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation*[[Karen Alderman Harbert]] - President and CEO, Institute for 21st Century Energy*[[Stan Harrell]] - Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer*[[David Hirschmann]] - Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; President & CEO, U.S. Chamber Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness; President and CEO, the Global Intellectual Property Center*[[Jack Howard]] - Senior Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs*[[Randy Johnson]] - Senior Vice President, Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits*[[R. Bruce Josten]] - Executive Vice President, Government Affairs*[[William Kovacs]] - Senior Vice President, Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs *[[John G. Murphy]] - Senior Vice President for International Policy*[[Marty Regalia]] - Senior Vice President and Chief Economist*[[Lisa Rickard]] - President, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, President, Workforce Freedom Initiative, Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce*[[John Sullivan]] - Executive Director, Center for International Private Enterprise*[[Agnes Warfield-Blanc]] - Senior Vice President, Development ===Board membersof Directors===The following are listed as members As of the Chamber's board of directors.August 2015:<ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce, [httphttps://www.uschamber.com/about-us/board/default -directors Boardof Directors],] USChamber.comorganizational website, accessed October 22, 2007August 2015.</ref> *[[Thomas J. Donohue]], President and CEO*[[Paul S. Speranza, Jr.]]Michael Ducker, Chairman of the Board of Directors*[[Donald JJohn L. Shepard]]Hopkins, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors*[[Gerald LJohn W. Shaheen]]Bachmann, Immediate Past Chair and Chair of the Executive CommitteeTreasurer
==Contact information==
United States Chamber of Commerce<br>
1615 H Street NW<br>
Website: http://www.uschamber.com/
==Archived Information== Older information from previous versions of this page. ===TradeRoots (2013)=== The Chamber's TradeRoots website was billed as "the nation's leading sustained grassroots education program dedicated to raising public awareness of international trade on a local level."<ref>TradeRoots.org, [http://www.traderoots.org Home], organizational website, accessed May 24, 2013.</ref> The ''Trade Toolbox'', a "resource to help in the trade export process, ... includes trade statistics, country and market reports, best market reports, frequently asked questions and trade contacts." The ''Toolbox'' was funded by a grant from the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]].<ref>TradeRoots.org, [http://web.archive.org/web/20050204205059/http://www.traderoots.org/fsMain.asp?i=tt Trade toolbox], organizational website - accessed via Wayback Machine, archived July 3, 2013.</ref> See an archived version of this website [https://web.archive.org/web/20130202013521/http://www.tradesupportsjobs.com/ here]. ===Chamber Campaigns (2010-2011)=== In June, 2011 the Chamber enlisted former White House Chief of Staff under President Bush [[Andrew Card]], and Democratic former Indiana Senator [[Evan Bayh]] to put on a national "road show" to rally businesses to oppose government regulations. The road show is being handled by Chamber employee [[Thomas Collamore]], who formerly was a vice president of [[Philip Morris Corporate Affairs]], the department at PM that was responsible for thwarting national efforts to reduce tobacco use. The Chamber planned to formally announce the Bayh and Card road show on June 22, 2011, and then start flying the two around the country in a push to gather support for reducing regulations designed to protect the environment, consumers and workers. The Chamber plans to fight the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency's]] efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, push to minimize the power of the recently-created [[Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]], block implementation of [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA]] workplace safety and health programs, hamper employees' ability to join unions, and make other pro-business reforms. The Chamber has [http://www.iwatchnews.org/2010/12/01/2282/chamber-seeks-cash-insurers-financial-firms-new-effort/page/0/1 spent months] soliciting millions of dollars in funding for this anti-regulatory effort from Wall Street financial firms, insurance and energy companies. <ref>Peter H. Stone, [http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/06/07/4825/chamber-commerce-hires-odd-couple-evan-bayh-and-andy-card-anti-regs-roadshow Chamber of Commerce hires odd couple Evan Bayh and Andy Card for anti-regs roadshow] IWatchNews, June 7, 2011.</ref> ===Opposing National Health Care Reform (2009)=== The U.S. Chamber sponsored the [[Campaign for Responsible Health Reform]], a program launched in 2009 to convince people to preserve employer-sponsored health insurance and oppose a public insurance option in health care reform in the U.S. The Campaign aimed to convince people that a government-sponsored plan is "fiscally reckless," will "lead us down the road to total government control of our health," and that it will make those with private insurance pay even more. The Campaign said that "a government-run plan that would have broad and unrivaled power to negotiate for low-cost services of doctors and other health care providers could put private insurers out of business." The group's former website had a "Take Action" page that says "We can’t afford to let a government-run plan raise our taxes and create long waits for treatment." It urges people to write their Congress members to oppose "government-run health care."<ref>Campaign for Responsible Health Reform, [http://www.responsiblehealthreform.org/take-action Take Action], organizational website, accessed August 18, 2009.</ref> ===Support for National Gas Tax (2007)=== "After a Minneapolis bridge collapsed on Aug. 1, [2007,] killing 13 people, members of Congress have sought to increase the gas tax to fix 'structurally deficient' bridges and make other infrastructure repairs. ... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the [[National Association of Manufacturers]], groups that don’t normally agree with tax increases, support a national gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure improvements."<ref>Jim Snyder, [http://thehill.com/the-executive/...we-are-absolutely-failing-...-in-how-the-system-is-performing-2007-10-19.html ‘...We are absolutely failing ... in how the system is performing’], ''The Hill'', October 19, 2007.</ref> ===General James Jones Head Chamber's Institute for Energy (2007)=== In March 2007, ''O'Dwyer's PR Daily'' reported that General [[James L. Jones]], formerly the Supreme Allied Commander of [[NATO]] forces in Europe, had joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a lobbyist.<ref name="Jones">O'Dwyer's PR Daily, [http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/0305jones_uscoc.htm Jones Works Energy Front], organizational website (sub req'd), March 5, 2007.</ref> "Jones will head the [[Institute for Energy]], which is to present itself as a [[Astroturf|grassroots]] organization. The Chamber went a similar path with the creation of the Institute for Legal Reform." Jones will focus on [[global warming]] and seek "to 'unify energy stakeholders behind a common strategy' to produce affordable and secure supplies while protecting the environment," reported ''O'Dwyer's'', quoting Chamber president Tom Donohue.<ref name="Jones"/> ===SCHIP Veto (2007)=== The Chamber is among a number of organizations which supported President [[George W. Bush]]'s October 2007 veto of the SCHIP ([[State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007]]) bill.<ref>Campaigns & Elections, [http://campaignsandelections.com/sc/releases/index.cfm?ID=5325 "Barrett Supports Bush On SCHIP,"] organizational website, October 18, 2007.</ref> [[Republican Party|Republicans]] and "some business groups" such as the Chamber contended SCHIP "should focus on poor children and the expansion [would be] a move towards government-run health care. They also worr[ied] identification rules in the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] SCHIP bill might allow [[illegal immigration|illegal immigrants]] to obtain government coverage."<ref>Mike Sunnucks, [http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/10/15/daily42.html SCHIP override falls short], ''The Business Journal of Phoenix'', October 18, 2007.</ref> ===Lobbying Information (2004-2007)=== The Chamber ranks first in lobbying spending in the past decade, with [[General Electric]] ranking second at $161 million, according to the [[Center for Responsive Politics]].<ref>Dan Morain, [http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-money18oct18,1,2554878.story "Tinseltown filling campaign coffers. Democrats are reaping the benefits of wealthy and glamorous donors while entertainment executives hope to be heard in Washington,"] ''Los Angeles Times'', October 18, 2007.</ref> ''Political Money Line'' highlighted in February 2005 that the Chamber and its Institute for Legal Reform reported combined spending of $53.38 million for lobbying the Executive and Legislative branches during 2004. According to the watchdog website, "This is the ''largest twelve-month amount reported spent by any group''."<ref>Political Money Line Staff,[http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/02/23/cq_2318.html From Political Money Line: Chamber of Commerce Lobbying Skyrockets to New Record], The New York Times, February 23, 2007.</ref> The Chamber reported spending $20,060,000 in the first six months of 2004 and $8,780,000 in the last six months of 2004. They paid forty-five lobbyists in the last six months of 2004 to lobby on thirty-two issue areas, including "Trade, Small Business, Labor, Healthcare, Defense, Appropriations, Tort Reform and other areas."<ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060917042146/http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2005/01/000/031/000031109|138 Lobbying Report for 2004: Chamber of Commerce of the USA], organizational document - accessed via Wayback Machine, February 1, 2005.</ref> The Institute for Legal Reform reported spending $10,000,000 in the first six months of 2004 and $14,540,000 in the last six months. They had five lobbyists on the payroll for the last six months of 2004, working on the tort reform issue including "Class Action Fairness, Asbestos Injury Resolution, Legal Reform, and Lawsuit Abuse Reduction."<ref>U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060918150157/http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_gifviewer.exe?/2005/01/000/031/000031095|13 Lobbying Report for 2004: U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform], organizational document - accessed via Wayback Machine, </ref> ===TheTrueCosts.org=== TheTrueCosts.org is a now defunct website sponsored by the Chamber. In conjunction with the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP), it produced the ''No Trade in Fakes Supply Chain Tool Kit'', which provided "proven strategies" for companies "to use to protect their supply chains from counterfeiters and modern-day pirates." ===Social Security=== The Chamber had a role in promoting President George W. Bush's plan to [[U.S. Social Security privatization|privatize Social Security]]. ===National Chamber Foundation=== "The revitalized National Chamber Foundation, the Chamber’s public policy [[think tank]], is shaping the policy debate on cutting-edge business issues, with major new initiatives on intellectual property theft and counterfeiting, capital markets and accounting rules, and travel and tourism."<ref name="Don"/> ==Articles and resourcesResources==
===Related SourceWatch articlesArticles===
*[[Ayres McHenry & Associates]] (biased Chamber polling firm)
*[[Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth]]
*[[Yucca Energy Solutions]]
*[[Craig L. Fuller]] - board member
*[[Stuart L. Levenick]]
===External resourcesResources===
===External articlesArticles===
See [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce:External articles]]
===References===
[[category:ALEC Exposed|]][[Category:politics (U.S.)]][[category:elections (U.S.)]][[category:Social Security privatization]] [[category:Business lobby group]] [[category:Tort reform]][[Category:Coal lobby]][[Category:ALEC Trade Groups]][[Category:Koch Connection]][[Category:Economic justice]]
