Bill McKibben never let facts get in the way of a compelling narrative that serves his narrow political interests but has only a passing relationship to the truth. In a rambling op-ed in The Washington Post today, McKibben accuses the Chamber of denying the science of climate change and "opposing
In yesterday’s Weekly Radio Address, President Obama provided a preview of his speech here at the Chamber on Monday. The address, entitled, "If Business and Government Fulfill Their Responsibilities, America Will Win the Future," focuses on innovation, education and infrastructure--three issues ne
by Tita FreemanOne of the complaints about the online world is that half-truths can be hatched and spread worldwide in an instant, often posted by someone with a particular agenda - and with no regard to the facts - and then spread, repeated a thousand fold by a complicit or unwitting mob. We have
by Tita FreemanHope you caught this piece featured prominently in Sunday's New York Times about the National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC), and its staunch advocacy for business before the US Supreme Court. The Chamber's NCLC has long been the voice of business in the courts on issues of national
A friend of mine likes to tell the story of his young grandson who proudly proclaimed that he had just learned the Lord’s Prayer. With that, the little boy folded his hands, bowed his head and began, "Our Father, who aren’t* in heaven..." As my friend observed, at that moment the boy was very close
As you can imagine, we certainly are getting some interesting mail these days in light of the recent dust-up. And, as Tom Collamore noted below, thanks to Glenn Beck, we’re getting our share of contributions, too. But here’s a sampling of our email just from this week, from new members who are j
by Tita FreemanIn a speech today at the Rotary Club in Des Moines, Iowa, Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue called on lawmakers to address the recent surge in government regulations,
"The regulatory impact on the business community is pervasive, insidious, and needs to be exposed. American busin
Regarding the latest whopper about the Chamber that is making the rounds - started by John Podesta's Center for American Progress and carelessly repeated by others - these accusations are completely erroneous. Make no mistake, this is a partisan effort to attack and silence the voice of business a
MoveOn continues their efforts to explore the depths of intellectual dishonesty with a new campaign ad calling the U. S. Chamber: "A group recently accused of tax fraud for diverting money meant for charity towards their partisan agenda."
Accused of tax fraud? Sounds serious. Was this by the Justi
The title is from this Wall Street Journal article on Ivan Seidenberg's speech yesterday at Washington's Economic Club. Seidenberg, chief executive of Verizon Communications and current head of the Business Roundtable said that the Administration needs to:
"focus on the big goal," meaning job gr
Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued a statement today clarifying comments that he made at a recent Christian Science Monitor media breakfast on the BP oil spill cleanup efforts:
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is an environmental and financial catastrop
by Tita Freeman Tax Day has come and gone, but for many Henrys the pain lingers on. From the WSJ:
I'm in the 32% federal and 10% state income tax brackets. I pay a 1.2% property tax on very expensive California real estate. I am subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax. I am self-employed and subjec
Modern energy consumption has become so disconnected from modern production that if you asked the average person where electricity comes from they would point at an outlet on the wall. Then occasionally something happens which brings home the fact that supplying half of our nation's electricity is
As Tom Donohue notes in this McClatchy-Tribune op/ed there is a right way and a wrong way to enhance consumer protection. After presenting the right way, Donohue lists four major problems with the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA):
-One, the agency's authority would be truly exp
From NPR's Morning Edition:
In a new world, electric companies and manufacturing plants will have to control their greenhouse gas emissions. Congress is debating setting up a cap and trade system to cut global warming pollution across the whole economy. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Age
There’s a story in today’s SF Chronicle that paints a fairly incomplete picture of our efforts on climate change and job creation, despite my best efforts to provide that information to the reporter, Kelly Zito. We had an email exchange, wherein I sent her the transcript of Chamber CEO Tom Donohue’
No surprises that the NRDC has used their creative license to concoct a selective timeline of quotes to erroneously misconstrue the Chamber’s climate change positions. Let's correct their continued sloppy work (our additions left):
8/25/09: U.S. Chamber senior staff tells the LA Times it seeks a "
Today MoveOn.org released a petition falsely accusing the U.S. Chamber of stating that it would: "set a dangerous precedent" to allow rape victims into court.
This is of course false. MoveOn.org's malicious misrepresentation of the Chamber's position is baseless and is another example of its orches
A few weeks ago at the launch of our Free Enterprise campaign a reporter asked U.S. Chamber president and CEO Tom Donohue if he had read a NY Times editorial by Senators Kerry and Graham on a bi-partisan approach to climate action. Donohue indicated that he had read the piece and that it contained
Reuters reports: "The U.S. House of Representatives healthcare overhaul bill expected to be unveiled on Tuesday will include surtaxes on the wealthy starting in 2011 and rising in 2013 if more money is needed to pay for its programs" -- with the wealthy being defined as families making more than $3
Gail Collins questions David Brooks on his excellent column this week regarding the Obama health care plan and Brooks ups the excellence with this response:
Which brings me to my core concern. I want the health care system fixed. I want more people covered. But I am not willing to bankrupt the nat
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue will appear this weekend on "FOX News Sunday" to discuss the Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise.
This national advocacy campaign will be one of the most important initiatives in the Chamber's nearly 100-year history.
"We're launching this campa
One of the lazier debating tactics is the "if you are not for X, you are against Y" argument. The Chamber has been a frequent target for this type of attack around the Waxman-Markey energy and climate bill and I am sure that we will being seeing it again as health reform moves forward.
Let me make
by Tita Freeman For the millions of small businesses looking for a silver lining to this recession, Dr. Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist for Google, delivered a dose of hope this morning at America’s Small Business Summit 2009.
In front of an eager crowd of over 400 small b
The U.S. Chamber represents business, and business likes things that work efficiently and effectively. When it comes to public policy no one political party has a monopoly on good ideas, nor does a single good idea represent a complete solution – you have to pick and choose, define and re-fine. So
Earlier today U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue spoke at the Detroit Economic Club on how we can move our economy forward again. Addressing headline issues like the stimulus package, TARP II, the U.S. auto industry, and a growing isolationist movement, Donohue laid out a five step plan to
Tom Donohue testified today before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging for investments in America’s transportation infrastructure:
In his Inaugural Address this week, President Obama spoke about Americans working together with a common purpose to achieve great things. He s
by Tita Freeman As I’m sure you have heard often in both the soft concerned tones normally associated with NPR and in bombastic admonishments normally reserved for war crimes tribunals women make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Outrageous right!That two people born on the same day, with the e
"Fairness" is in quotes for a reason, as reported:
The House will likely vote this week on two pay-discrimination bills that were passed by the last Congress but stopped in the Senate by Republican-led filibusters. The first measure, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, would overturn a May 2007 Supr
With every quarterly release of financial data we see the anti-Exxon crowd mobilize, so I was not surprised to see this headline screaming from the front page of the Washington Post business section this morning: "Yet Again, Exxon Breaks Its Record Quarterly Profit." To be fair the WaPo article is
Bruce Josten explains why the House has only one intelligent choice on the financial rescue bill. Tell them to make it.
by Tita Freeman The U.S. Chamber has launched an inside-the-beltway radio advertising campaign urging Congress to act immediately to pass a responsible bill that will stabilize our financial system and ensure that consumers and businesses will continue to have access to credit.
We need Congress to p
We have said it many times before, but let me say it again. The U.S. Chamber believes that climate change should be addressed, and can be addressed, in a way that works for the economy AND the environment. To achieve the best possible set of solutions we must have a comprehensive debate that includ
Over the Labor Day weekend, in an op/ed which ran around the country, U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue explained the danger posed by card check legislation. Running opposite Donohue's column, in many papers, was an editorial in favor of card check by Mark Weisbrot from the Center for Eco
Labor Day seemed a good time to recognize the role which Big Labor and union issues will play in the upcoming election so U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue circulated an op/ed this past weekend on card check and its threat to workers’ rights. It began:Labor Day signals the beginning of th
