U.S. Chamber Plans Big Money Campaign to Back Pro-Business Candidates

March 18, 2010

Politics Daily

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an influential and constant force on Capitol Hill, has a list of 6 million names to aid in its lobbying and campaign efforts and expects to spend 40 percent more this year more than it did in 2008, according to the Washington Post. The Chamber is looking at about 10 Senate races and as many as 40 House contests for targeting its efforts, which could be aided by a recent Supreme Court decision easing restrictions on money spent for political advertising.

The targeted races have not yet been chosen. But Chamber President Thomas J. Donohue called the battle plan "the most aggressive voter-education and issue-advocacy effort in our nearly hundred-year history."

The ramping up of activity is largely in reaction to President Obama's and the Democratic Congress' policies, which the conservative advocacy group views as too much government for businesses' liking. On its Web site Wednesday, for instance, the Chamber said the latest legislative attempt by Senate Democrats to reform the financial system was disappointing and represented "three steps backward." Among other complaints, the Chamber said it "will continue to oppose a new independent consumer financial regulator that will reduce access to credit for businesses and consumers."

The Post said Democrats will try to turn the Chamber's campaign to their advantage by casting Republicans as captives of corporate interests.

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