Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce

Commentary

Living Wage has brought good competition to Los Angeles International Airport

L.A.'s Living Wage Ordinance Isn't a Job Killer

September 21, 2011

Despite the dire warnings of former Mayor Richard Riordan, the L.A. Chamber of Commerce and many other business organizations, which opposed requiring airport contractors to pay a living wage, competition for LAX food concessions is more vigorous than ever. More proof that businesses and good wages and benefits for workers can coexist.

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The Chamber of Commerce Does Not Care About Unemployment

July 11, 2011

Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held its "Jobs For America Summit". Consider it part of a continuing campaign to convince the American public that the organization cares about something other than the profits of its largest donors. (It doesn’t.)

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Chamber of Commerce, Wrong Again

May 19, 2011

The California Chamber of Commerce released its hit list of so-called "job killer" bills. Like every year, they oppose every proposal to protect consumers, workers and the environment from irresponsible business practices, or raise revenues to fund public services, or support middle and working class families. 

They were wrong before and they are wrong now.

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US Capitol building

Darrel Issa’s Government Handover

January 05, 2011

By Donald Cohen and Peter Dreier. Posted on Huffington Post. January 5, 2011.

Newly emboldened as chair of the House’s key investigative committee, California Cong. Darrell Issa, the conservative Republican, sent letters to more than 150 business lobby groups, asking them to identify government rules that they want eliminated.

Issa wants to hand the government over to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a who’s who of corporate America. The new Republican Congress is their opportunity to get rid of those pesky environmental laws, consumer product safety laws and even rules to prevent another Wall St. financial train wreck.

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Cry Wolf Quotes

An excess profits tax is not in keeping with our competitive enterprise system. It suggests that government can decide how much profits should be, which profits are excessive, and which are not excessive. If this is possible with the energy producing segment of the economy, then is it not possible with other segments of the economy? Where do we stop? What will be the shortages next year and the next, and which businesses will be subjected to government regulation and control of their profits?

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Walker Winter, of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Statement at the House Committee on Ways and Means.
02/05/1974 | Full Details | Law(s): Windfall Profits Tax

[The business community will wage] all-out war [against paid family leave because] someone's got to pay for it [and] paid leave will give employees an incentive to use it.

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Randel Johnson, vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits at the United States Chamber of Commerce. The Austin Business Journal.
09/10/2007 | Full Details | Law(s): General: Family Leave

[The bill would give the government] sweeping powers over industry [and make the secretary of labor] PROSECUTOR, JUDGE, AND JURY.

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Chamber of Commerce letter to members.
02/28/1963 | Full Details | Law(s): Equal Pay Act

The signing of this proposal places California in the position of being the first state in the nation to implement a program that pays for workers to take non-work related time off. This will cause California to lose some of its competitive edge, as many businesses will look to other states when relocating or starting up to avoid these types of mandates.

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California Chamber of Commerce, United Press International.
09/23/2002 | Full Details | Law(s): California Paid Family Leave
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Backgrounders & Briefs

Industry Repeats Itself on Financial Reform

As the nation approaches the first anniversary of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, opponents are claiming that the new measure is extraordinarily damaging, especially to Main Street. But industry’s alarmist rhetoric bears striking resemblance to the last time it faced sweeping new safeguards: during the New Deal reforms. The parallels between the language used both then and now are detailed in a report released today by Public Citizen and the Cry Wolf Project.

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Resources

U.S. Chamber Watch is a watchdog organization focused on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's agenda and influence.

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