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

The class action concept is misdirected and does not meet the overriding need of establishing a workable method to prevent frauds and deceptions. At best, class actions are only remedial to the consumer. At worst, they are a deceptive promise of prevention which the consumer is unlikely to see fulfilled. This is especially true of the low-income consumer who is the typical prey of unscrupulous operators, particularly in inner-city areas.

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William B. Norris, Chamber of Commerce, Testimony, Consumer Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee,” Chamber of Commerce Public Presentations.
03/18/1970 | Full Details | Law(s): Class Action Jurisdiction Act

The moment you get either people or lawyers apprised of the fact that a company has a toxic material on their premises, they’re going to bring a lawsuit.

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Thacher Longstreth president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and former Republican city councilman.
10/06/1980 | Full Details | Law(s): Philadelphia Worker and Community Right-to-Know Act

The real worry is that these new rules and regulations do not create a risk factor or a timidity that is so severe that... they sit on the sidelines worrying more about rules and regulations than they do about making money.

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Thomas Donohue, President of the Chamber of Commerce
09/25/2002 | Full Details | Law(s): Sarbanes-Oxley 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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