THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS BACK...
US CHAMBER SPENDING IN HAWAII SENATE RACE TOPS A WHOPPING $1 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP REPUBLICAN LINDA LINGLE
AS THEIR PREVIOUS $750,000 INVESTMENT DIDN’T PAN OUT, US CHAMBER THROWS DOWN NEARLY $300,000 MORE TO HELP LINGLE REBRAND HER IMAGE
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The US Chamber of Commerce Is Spending Nearly $300,000 More on TV Ads In Hawaii On Behalf of Republican Linda Lingle. On September 21, 2012, the US Chamber launched $280,000 in ads on statewide Hawaii TV broadcast and cable networks. The Chamber’s fourth round of ads try to reform Lingle’s image as a bipartisan, independent leader. [US Chamber of Commerce Media Buys via Public Files; Washington Post, 9/20/12]
The US Chamber of Commerce Spending Is An Effort To Make Hawaii Senate Race More Competitive—“Grow The Map” —Says “Brand Of The Chamber” Could Help Move Voters. In September 2012, The Washington Post reported on the US Chamber’s latest flight of ads in US Senate race and noted: “The Chamber of Commerce is going up with new ads in four states — including a couple where other Republican groups aren’t running ads. The new ads will run in Hawaii, New Mexico, Virginia and Wisconsin. The first two states are blue states where national Republicans either haven’t run ads (Hawaii) or have pulled their advertising (New Mexico). Scott Reed, a media consultant working with the Chamber on the ads, said the name of the game is expanding the field of play. “Our strategy all year has been to try to grow the map and get more Senate races to be competitive,” Reed said. “These are markets that where we think we can move some voters using brand of the Chamber.” [Washington Post, 9/20/12]
THE US CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT TOM DONOHUE IS KNOWN AS "OBAMA'S TORMENTOR"
U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue Is Known As "Obama's Tormentor” [BusinessWeek, 11/3/10]
US Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue Has “Emerged As President Obama’s Most Effective Antagonist. “During the last two years, empowered by $350 million in donations from corporations such as Dow Chemical (DOW), Goldman Sachs (GS), Chevron Texaco (CVX), and many other anonymous sources, Donohue has emerged as President Obama's most effective antagonist. Almost every time the President introduced a major initiative, the chamber and its leader were primed to attack: New health-care laws imposed a "burdensome mandate on employers," and the Administration's Wall Street reforms would "choke off" business' access to capital. And don't get Donohue started on the White House's climate change proposals. It didn't matter that Obama helped resuscitate the banking system, bailed out auto manufacturers, and meddled far less with Wall Street than many of his supporters would have wished. Donohue tapped into a powerful vein of discontent within the business community and rode it like a rocket.” [BusinessWeek, 11/3/10]
Asked If Battles Between US Chamber And Obama White House Were Over, Donohue Laughed, "Oh, Hell No. They Are In The Second Inning." In 2010, BusinessWeek reported: "He'd like to start by chipping away at the President's legislative achievements such as health-care and financial reform, which must still be implemented at the regulatory level. In short, the battles between the chamber and the [Obama] White House are far from over. "Oh, hell no," Donohue laughs. "They are in the second inning."[BusinessWeek, 11/3/10]
US CHAMBER IS PART OF $1 BILLION GOP SUPERPAC CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT PRESIDENT OBAMA
Republican Linda Lingle Is “Embracing An Organization That Has Been One Of President Obama’s Harshest Critics”: According to Honolulu Civil Beat: “In aligning herself with the U.S. Chamber, however, Lingle is embracing an organization that has been one of President Barack Obama's harshest critics. Under president and CEO Tom Donohue, Obama has been castigated over health care, renewable energy and job growth, to name just a few hot-button issues.” [Honolulu Civil Beat, 5/18/12]
“During the past three years, the U.S. Chamber has emerged as one of President's Obama's most persistent critics.” [Honolulu Civil Beat, 5/18/12]
The U.S. Chamber Is An Integral Player In Republican SuperPACs’ $1 Billion Effort To Defeat President Obama. According to Politico, “Republican superPACs and other outside groups shaped by a loose network of prominent conservatives-including Karl Rove, the Koch Brothers and Tom Donohue of the U.S. Chamber of Commercie- plan to spend roughly $1 billion on November’s elections for the White House and control of Congress, according to officials familiar with the groups’ internal operations.” [Politico, 5/30/12]
The U.S. Chamber Plans To Spend $100 Million On 2012 Election-Will Help Romney In Several States With Competitive Senate Races. According to Politico, “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a goal of $100 million, according to outsiders familiar with the plans. All of that will be focused on congressional races, with the House as the top priority-what organizers call “the first insurance policy” if Obama were to get reelected. But the Chamber’s message, which includes attacks on Obama’s health-care plan, can be expected to help Romney in several states with competitive Senate races that are also presidential battlegrounds- Florida, Ohio, Virginia, New Mexico, Nevada and Wisconsin.” [Politico, 5/30/12]
THE US CHAMBER IS FUNDED BY A HANDFUL OF BIG CORPORATIONS
Despite Representing More Than 3 Million Businesses, The Bulk of The US Chamber’s Donations Come From Just A Handful of Big Corporations. According to the New York Times, the US Chamber’s “records show that while the chamber boasts of representing more than three million businesses, and having approximately 300,000 members, nearly half of its $140 million in contributions in 2008 came from just 45 donors. Many of those large donations coincided with lobbying or political campaigns that potentially affected the donors.” [New York Times, 10/22/10]
FOR NOW…THE ANTI-OBAMA US CHAMBER STRATEGY IN HAWAII IS NOTICIBLY DIFFERENT THAN THEIR TRADITIONAL MAINLAND NEGATIVE ATTACKS
In All Other Senate Races, US Chamber Of Commerce Are Running Negative Ads Against Democrats. In September 2012, The Washington Post reported on the US Chamber’s latest flight of ads in US Senate race and noted: “The ads (which can be seen here) focus on former Virginia governor Tim Kaine’s (D) energy record, former Hawaii governor Linda Lingle’s (R) business record (a positive spot), Rep. Martin Heinrich’s (D-N.M.) ties to Washington and Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wis.) vote for Obamacare and its Medicare cuts.” [Washington Post, 9/20/12]
US CHAMBER HAS ALREADY SPENT $750,000 ON ADS TRYING TO
REBRAND REPUBLICAN LINDA LINGLE'S IMAGE
The Anti-Obama US Chamber Of Commerce Had Already Spent $750,000 To “Help Brand Lingle As A Bipartisan Leader” Through July 2012. According to the Star Advertiser, “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent $750,000 on positive television advertising in Hawaii to help brand former Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, as a bipartisan leader. But the chamber's ads in other states with competitive Senate campaigns have taken a much sharper, more partisan tone that overwhelmingly favors Republicans and targets Democrats.” [Star Advertiser, 7/28/12]
- In July, Republican Linda Lingle Went On A Statewide Tour To Tout U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorsement…. According to a Lingle campaign press release, “We’re VERY excited about what’s in store this week: Gov. Lingle is making neighbor island visits to talk about the important endorsement of her campaign by the pro-small business U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Tuesday and Wednesday, Governor will be on Maui, Thursday she’ll be in Kona, and on Friday she’ll be on Kauai to talk about her vision for improving the economy and creating more jobs.” [Lingle for Senate, 7/16/12]
- ….On The Same Day, U.S. Chamber Launched Their Third Round Of Ads In Support Of Lingle’s Candidacy For U.S. Senate. According to the Huffington Post: “The nation's biggest business lobby launched an ad campaign on Tuesday supporting what it calls "Friends of the U.S. Chamber" candidates in four competitive Senate races across the country. The 30-second television spots will air in Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and North Dakota, according to a chamber press release. The new batch of ads will focus on candidates' positions on domestic energy production, health care and government spending… The remaining two spots feature chamber-backed Senate candidates Linda Lingle, a former GOP governor of Hawaii, and Heather Wilson, formerly a Republican congresswoman from New Mexico.
THE ANTI-OBAMA US CHAMBER AND REPUBLICAN LINDA LINGLE’S RIGHT-WING AGENDA
EXTEND THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHIEST 2%
The Anti-Obama US Chamber Lobbied Congress To Extend Bush Tax Cuts. According to a 2010 letter it sent to members of commerce, “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, strongly urges Congress to act expeditiously to end the tax uncertainty plaguing the business community by extending the expiring 2001 and 2003 tax rates and the business tax provisions that expired at the end of 2009. A long term extension, preferably permanent, of all current tax rates would, in one bold stroke, boost investor, business, and consumer confidence by taking the uncertainty of tax policy off the table. It would leave hard-earned income in the hands of the individuals and businesses that earned it and allow them to spur investment, boost consumption, promote economic growth, and create jobs. Further, without expeditious Congressional action to extend current marginal tax rates, millions of Americans will face greater withholding for taxes from their hard-earned paychecks in six weeks.” [US Chamber of Commerce, Letter to Congress, 11/15/10; Huffington Post, 11/29/10]
Republican Linda Lingle Supports Extending Bush Tax Cuts. In 2012, Lingle issued a press release noting: “While it is easier for Hirono to hide behind the curtain of national Democrat talking points, than it is to dig into the details of the hotly debated discussion of extending the Bush-era tax cuts, her ignorance is far from bliss for Hawaii taxpayers." Governor Linda Lingle has stated that she would vote to extend the tax cuts because of the harsh impacts on Hawaii small businesses if they are not extended, Lee said.'" [Hawaii Reporter, 8/2/12]
OPPOSE THE BUFFETT RULE
The Anti-Obama U.S. Chamber Opposed Buffett Rule. “The Chamber of Commerce on Monday urged lawmakers not to vote for legislation pushed by President Obama that would ensure that the nation's wealthiest pay a minimum tax rate. The powerful business group said it would score the vote on S. 2230, also called the ‘Buffett Rule.’” [The Hill, 4/16/12]
Republican Linda Lingle “Would Have Sided With Senate Republicans Who Blocked The So-Called Buffett Rule.” In April 2012, Honolulu Civil Beat reported, “It appears Gov. Linda Lingle would have sided with Senate Republicans who blocked the so-called Buffett rule on Monday. In a press release over the weekend, Lingle’s campaign referred to the proposal as a ‘gimmick.’ ‘Knowing full well the measure does not have the support it needs to pass, the procedural vote was deliberately set up to let this measure fail,’ Lingle said. ‘Once again, Congress was presented with an opportunity to provide meaningful bipartisan tax reform to the people of Hawaii and our nation, but instead it chose to squander this time for political gain.’” [Honolulu Civil Beat, 4/17/12]
REPEAL PRESIDENT OBAMA’S AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
The Anti-Obama U.S. Chamber Agenda Includes Repealing Major Tenets of Health Care Reform: According to its website, the Chamber’s agenda includes: “The new health care law creates new mandates and taxes on businesses and individuals. While the Chamber supports the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), we recognize that total repeal in the 112th Congress is unlikely. Therefore, we stand ready to work with Congress to repeal the most egregious provisions, including the employer mandate and the many new taxes that will be passed on to employers and employees in the form of higher premiums.” [US Chamber of Commerce, accessed 7/15/12]
Republican Linda Lingle Would Vote To Repeal Health Care Reform In Up And Down Vote. In July 2012, the Star Advertiser quoted Linda Lingle: “if it is a straight ‘repeal or not repeal' of the (federal law) as-is without any changes, I would vote to repeal." [Star Advertiser, 7/4/12]
TURN MEDICARE IN TO A VOUCHER PROGRAM
The Anti-Obama U.S. Chamber Supported The Ryan Budget Which Includes Turning Medicare In To “Premium Support” (Voucher) Program. “At a breakfast with reporters this morning, Bruce Josten, executive vice president for government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, praised House Budget chair Paul Ryan and his ‘Path to Prosperity’ budget outline, which was released earlier this week. ‘We think it is exactly the pathway to a trajectory to get the federal budget spending down to where it’s under control,’ Josten said. ‘This is not just touching the third rail, this is grasping the third rail.’” [Weekly Standard, 4/8/11]
Republican Linda Lingle Supports Turning Medicare In To A “Premium Support” (Voucher) Program. In order to make certain that we can support this program for our seniors now and in the future, were are going to have to take a look at this, and the bi-partisan proposal, a plan called “Premium Support,” is one that people all across the country have concluded is an important way to go. Without making this change, which basically what it does is instead of the federal government running Medicare and continuing to cut reimbursements to doctors, my opponent says she supports the President’s healthcare law. But that takes 700 billion dollars that was planned to be spent on the increasing cost of Medicare over time, and it takes it away from Medicare to fund new programs under his healthcare law. That’s going to cause Medicare to go broke even faster. And that’s why having a more competitive environment where seniors can actually go out and buy their insurance, the same way that Congresswoman Hirono and 8 million federal employees that’s what they have.” [Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum, 9/6/12]
SUPPORTED PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY
The Anti-Obama U.S. Chamber Supported Bush-Style Social Security Privatization Plan. According to the Chamber of Commerce’s website, “The only way to permanently strengthen Social Security is to transform the system into a program with real savings to back its promises to future retirees. The best way to do this is with a personal account component as President Bush and others have proposed.” [USChamber.com, accessed 5/9/12]
Republican Linda Lingle Was “Impressed” By Bush’s 2005 Plan To Privatize Social Security. In February 2005, reacting to the 2005 state of the union speech by President George W. Bush in which the President “made clear the White House plans to ramp up the campaign in an effort to pass… his proposal to partially privatize Social Security,” Lingle said she “was impressed with the president's plans to continue building on the economic momentum of the last few years, including details to strengthen and save Social Security to ensure future generations will have a secure retirement.” [MSNBC.com, 2/4/05; Associated Press, 2/4/05]
EXPANDED OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING
The Anti-Obama US Chamber Was An “Active Voice” In Promoting Expanded Offshore Drilling. According to a 2010 press release: “The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy has been an active voice in the debate to promote safe exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico. Through a growing coalition of state and local business groups, the U.S. Chamber has generated more than 6000 letters urging President Obama to lift the moratorium and adopt policies to put Americans back to work and promote economic growth in the Gulf region.” [US Chamber of Commerce, 9/30/10]
Republican Linda Lingle Open To Expanded Offshore Oil Drilling. In August 2012, the Star Advertiser reported: “[Lingle] would consider more offshore oil drilling on the mainland as an option to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil. [Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8/27/12]
END EPA REGULATIONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
The Anti-Obama US Chamber Has Challenged The Legality Of EPA Greenhouse Gas Regulation. In 2010, Climatesciencewatch.org reported, “On August 13, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a petition for judicial review to challenge the legality of the EPA’s decision not to reconsider its determination that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and welfare and are to be regulated under the Clean Air Act. While claiming that the lawsuit “does not address the science of climate change,” the Chamber has a history of questioning climate science to fight off regulation, including the assertion that warming of even 3 degrees Celsius over the next century would be ‘beneficial to humans’ and a call to put ‘the science of climate change on trial.’ The Chamber of Commerce and nine other parties, including fossil fuel interests, anti-regulatory NGOs, and the state governments of Texas and Virginia, previously filed petitions for reconsideration of EPA’s “Endangerment Finding” issued in December 2009.” [ClimateScienceWatch.org, 8/25/10]
As Governor, Republican Linda Lingle Signed Letter To Congress Urging End To EPA Regulation Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In 2010, Lingle was one of 20 governors to write to Congress: “We feel compelled to guard against a regulatory approach that would increase the cost of electricity and gasoline prices, manufactured products, and ultimately harm the competitiveness of the US economy. As governors, we strongly urge Congress to stop harmful EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could damage those vital interests. We ask that Congress continue its work to pass comprehensive legislation that balances the role of conservation and climate security with the production of abundant and affordable American energy. The EPA has initiated efforts to impose greenhouse gas regulations that could be harmful to our economies at an especially critical time. As Governors, we are gravely concerned about such regulation.” [Governors’ Letter To Congress, 3/10/10]
OPPOSE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK
The Anti-Obama U.S. Chamber “Strongly” Opposed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Threatened to Count it As Key Vote. In April 2008, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “strongly” urged members of Congress “to oppose H.R. 2831, the ‘Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.’” The Chamber turned to a tort reform refrain, arguing that “subjecting employers to such claims would literally lead to an explosion of litigation second guessing legitimate employment and personnel decisions.” “Nor is it clear how an employer would defend itself from such a claim without the ability to go back in time and make the types of robust statistical analyses necessary for a defense.” The Chamber’s head lobbyist, Bruce Josten, concluded the letter, “For these reasons, the Chamber strongly urges you to oppose H.R. 2831 and may consider votes on, or in relation to, this issue in our annual How They Voted scorecard.” [U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Key Vote Alert!” Letter, April 22, 2008]
Republican Linda Lingle, As Governor, Vetoed Wage Discrimination Bill. In June 2004, the Honolulu Advertiser reported that Lingle vetoed a bill “prohibiting employers from discriminating on the basis of gender by paying wages to an employee at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays wages to another employee of the opposite sex for equal work if gender is the only consideration. Lingle said the bill is unnecessary because federal and state laws prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of gender.” [Honolulu Advertiser, 6/26/04]