Friends of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Who’s Right About Energy Policy: American Public v. The Administration

While Healthcare has taken center stage over the past few days — it’s also been quite a week for the future of America’s energy security.

First, we learned that the federal courts rebuked the EPA three different times for exceeding its authority—including one case where EPA retroactively revoked a properly secured permit for a coal mining company in West Virginia.

Then, the EPA announced a new rule that will restrict greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in a way that effectively places a ban on new, conventional coal-fired power plants in the future.

Collectively, these EPA actions (even those struck down by the courts) could have the impact of killing American jobs, spiking energy costs, and threatening the electricity grid on which our country runs.

At the same time, the Administration continues to stick to its decision not to allow full construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, and a moratorium remains in place that prevents us from tapping the vast energy resources off America’s shores.

All of this comes at a time of when gas prices continue to rise. 

Fortunately, some recent public opinion surveys show that the American people “get it” when it comes to energy policy.  One recent Rasmussen Reports survey shows that a strong majority (58%) of Americans say that free market competition is better than regulations at controlling gas prices.

Another survey finds that the great majority of Americans think we’re not doing enough to develop our domestic oil and gas resources — and a majority favor building the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The American people clearly want an “all of the above” energy strategy.  Unfortunately, the Administration’s approach has proved itself as more of a “some of the above” plan, with increases in regulation and restrictive actions taking place over the past few weeks.

As uncertainty and higher prices continue to cloud our energy future, it will become increasingly important that the Administration listens to what the American people want. 

Leave a comment to tell us what energy initiative you support to create jobs, keep America on the front lines of competitiveness, and secure our nation’s energy future.

The Most Ridiculous Lawsuit in America?

America needs more jobs, not more lawsuits.

In 1998, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce founded the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) to address the litigation explosion that hurts employers, consumers and families alike.

ILR's mission: To make America's legal system simpler, fairer and faster for everyone.

In these challenging economic times, the last thing we need is for businesses to face the added burden of lawsuit abuse. As part of their effort to shine a spotlight on the problem, the ILR team is on the constant look out for outrageous lawsuits slowing down the legal system to be presented  in a monthly Most Ridiculous Lawsuit Poll.

We’ll begin to feature these monthly polls here on the What We're Watching blog – and hope you’ll take a moment to vote, and forward it on to your friends.

Without further adieu, we invite you to click below to vote for which of this month's lawsuits you think is most ridiculous: 


 

Waking Up to the Healthcare Law

“Now the American public is waking up to what is, in fact, in the legislation, polls show they don’t like it, and we have a situation that will be difficult to deal with over the next decade.”

Watch as Randy Johnson, the Senior Vice President of Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits reflects on the passage, implications and shortcomings of the 2010 healthcare law on its the second-year anniversary.  

Leave a comment to share how you’ve seen America’s healthcare system changed since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

Americans Have Said “NO” To Obamacare.

This week marks the 2nd anniversary of the passage of Obamacare, and more than half of all Americans oppose it.

Obamacare serves as a stark reminder that elections have very serious consequences.  We need to send more people to Washington that won’t only oppose job-killing and tax-raising pieces of legislation like Obamacare, but who are also pro-business, pro-jobs, and support policies that will unleash the productive power of the free enterprise system to get our economy roaring again.

As we’ve mentioned, the U.S. Chamber is engaged in an historic and unprecedented voter education campaign in 2012. Because elections have consequences, voters need to know who supports common-sense policies that will create jobs and who supports policies that will harm our economy.

Today, we’re profiling three more voter education ads that highlight the records of three members of Congress:

Wisconsin: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is one of those Washington politicians who’s making it harder for small businesses.  She fought hard for the health care overhaul, which will heap crushing costs onto businesses, strangling them with government red tape, and making it harder for them to grown and put more Americans to work.

Higher taxes.  More regulations.  New burdens on businesses.  That’s Tammy Baldwin’s record.  And we want to make sure Wisconsinites know the truth before they vote:

Michigan: Congressman Fred Upton

As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House, Congressman Fred Upton has stood strong against new taxes that would have sent energy costs through the roof.  Upton opposed Obamacare and its job-killing mandates and taxes, and he’s heading the fight to repeal it.

Michigan needs more jobs, and Michigan voters should know that they have a pro-jobs friend in Representative in Fred Upton:

Pennsylvania: Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is fighting to protect Pennsylvanians from the big government onslaught coming from Washington. He opposed Obamacare, and is working with Fred Upton and others to see that it is repealed.  Fitzpatrick knows that it’s not Washington or Congress that will jumpstart our economy — it’s small businesses and American free enterprise that will get America back on track and put Americans back to work.

Pennsylvanians need to know that Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is on their side, working to protect Pennsylvania jobs and get our economy growing again.



Click here to see all of the ads that are part of our landmark 2012 voter education campaign.   As it turns 2 years old, Americans need to know who is fighting for them and fighting to end Obamacare.  

Are you Better or Worse off Under Obamacare? Why?

Since the 2010 passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, has your family and business been affected by its implications? Vote below, and leave a comment to tell us how.

Thanks for your thoughts and feedback! Your views and opinions help make our grassroots efforts stronger; giving us the guidance to most effectively fight for what you think is most important.

A Trail of Broken Promises

Two years have passed since Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became law, and  the full implications of its 159 new agencies, panels, commissions, regulatory bodies, and mandates remain murky. 

Not so unclear, however, are 6 big pledges made by the Administration and supporters of the 2010 healthcare overhaul that have since become broken promises to the American people.

Read the  trail of broken promises below, and let us know, will you feel the impact of the shortcomings of Obamacare?



Take action now: 

• Contact Congress and urge their Support for the Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board 
  
  
• Are you a small business? Submit a testimonial on how the PPACC's Employer Mandate will impact you. 

Korea-U.S. Trade Agreement Goes into Effect

This week, we’re proud to be celebrating the implementation of the Korea – United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), which goes into effect today.  

This landmark new agreement, signed into law on this past October,   has the potential to boost GDP by at least $12 billion through expanded exports support more than 70,000 new export-related jobs.

Now, the door is open for American businesses to seize on this opportunity, as Chamber President Tom Donohue recently pointed out:

“It is now up to the business community, including the hundreds of thousands of small and medium sized enterprises that make up the backbone of the U.S. economy, to take full advantage of this agreement to grow American exports,” Donohue said. “This agreement is the foundation for moving bipartisan, job-creating policies forward, and we urge the administration to build on the positive momentum of the South Korea trade agreement to continue opening up markets abroad.” 

By breaking down artificial trade barriers like tariffs, as KORUS does, we’re opening up a whole new market of consumers to the opportunity to enjoy products and services innovated by and created by Americans.

We would be remiss not to thank you for your hard work and grassroots advocacy that helped to get this agreement passed.  KORUS means a new, level playing field in South Korea’s dynamic and growing marketplace, and we look forward to the future opportunities KORUS holds for the American business community.

Click here to learn more about how the U.S. Chamber is working to expand trade to create new jobs and grow prosperity.

Who’s for Jobs? And Who’s Just Playing Politics?

Last week, we highlighted three of our new ads that are part of our multi-state voter education campaign.  The U.S. Chamber has set out to make sure that American voters know where their candidates stand on the issue of jobs before they head to the polls to choose their next members of Congress.

We need to get our economy growing again, so voters need to know who is supporting sensible pro-growth policies and who is placing political interests ahead of smart pro-jobs solutions.

Today, we’re highlighting three more of our new ads that will let you know where Congressman Joe Heck, Senator Claire McCaskill, and Virginia’s George Allen stand on the issues.

Congressman Joe Heck   

Over-regulation is keeping businesses wrapped up in government red tape.  High taxes make it harder for businesses to expand and create new jobs.  Because Congressman Joe Heck understands this, he’s been fighting to lower taxes and rein in regulatory overreach.

The recession has hit Nevada particularly hard, and Nevada voters are fortunate to have Joe Heck fighting for sensible pro-jobs policies:



Sen. Claire McCaskill   

Obamacare will place a new load of new mandates and burdens on businesses -- and it wouldn’t have passed without the vote of Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.  When Missouri voters had a chance to weigh in on Obamacare in 2012, 71% voted to reject ObamaCare’s mandates. 

So, why is Claire McCaskill still supporting ObamaCare?  See what Missouri voters need to know before November:



George Allen

George Allen has a record of working to help businesses grow and create new jobs.  As a U.S. Senator, he supported tax cuts that put more money in the hands of businesses. As Governor of Virginia, he was a bi-partisan leader for cutting spending and government waste.

Virginians should know that George Allen is fighting for jobs:



To view and share all of our ads click here.  Help us ensure that when Americans go to the polls this year, they vote for jobs.

Leave a comment below to tell us what you think of these candidates.

Fact Check: White House Energy Progress Report

Gas prices are soaring, and pain at the pump is forcing the White House to talk energy policy. 

Unfortunately, the White House’s “energy progress report” released on Monday, shows the administration continues to get it wrong when it comes to increasing domestic energy sources and developing a comprehensive energy policy that will create American jobs and decrease foreign dependence.

According to Politico:

The U.S. has made significant advances in the year since President Barack Obama outlined an ambitious strategy for improving energy security, according to a White House progress report out Monday…

The progress report touts numbers indicating that domestic oil and natural gas production is enjoying a boom time.

[They stressed] that the Keystone rejection was because of concerns about the pipeline's route within Nebraska and a short deadline imposed by Republicans. They also lauded the portion of the pipeline, from Cushing, Oklahoma, to Port Arthur, Texas, that is moving forward.

Let’s check the facts:

• Recent increases in domestic production of oil and natural gas are due to policies that were put in place before the Obama Administration and increased production on private and state lands.
• At the same time, Energy Secretary Steven Chu stated before a House of Representatives committee that his department's mission is not about addressing high energy prices. This is not terribly surprising considering that Secretary Chu once stated that he wanted to “boost” gasoline prices to Europe's levels and wean Americans off of fossil fuels.
• While blaming Republicans for its rejection, the Administration forgot to mention that the Keystone XL was in its fourth year of review when the Obama Administration rejected it.
• It’s also worth remembering that the Obama administration ignored its own Council on Jobs & Competitiveness report, which explicitly recommended expanding domestic oil and gas production to provide American energy, along with constructing new pipelines to increase oil delivery and create American jobs.
• And finally, the Administration’s solution to sky-rocketing gas prices is to raise taxes on the oil and gas industry, which history tells us will only lead to more imports.  Instead they should focus on actual solutions like tapping onshore and offshore lands that are currently blocked for exploration, removing job-killing regulations from the EPA and turning rhetoric into reality by developing a diverse energy strategy.

What the Administration is touting as progress is actually a major step backwards for American energy policy.

Read the Chamber’s plan to make American energy the next big thing by taking advantage of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create jobs, grow the economy, cut the deficit, and reduce foreign dependence.  The Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy is working to find real solutions to our energy challenges that will create jobs and help our economy

With the potential to create hundreds of thousands of American jobs, we deserve more than political rhetoric – it’s time to start demanding it. 

ACTION ALERT: Senate Infrastructure Vote Today

TODAY, the Senate is expected to finalize debate on an important issue early this week. They will be voting on S.1813, "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century," which would reauthorize surface transportation legislation and maintain funding levels for highways and transit.

As you know, our current transportation funding law is set to expire in just a few weeks on March 31st.  If that happens, needed road, highway and bridge projects currently in progress could come to an abrupt end.

America's job creators face a rocky road to recovery if Congress doesn’t immediately reauthorize funding to build and repair our nation's aging infrastructure.  

Recognizing the historic opportunity ahead of them, the Senate is slated to hold a final vote on an extension bill TODAY.

Click here to urge your Senators to vote "YES" on transportation reauthorization — and ask your House members to quickly adopt a similar version.

With your grassroots support we are making strides in the Senate, but the fight is not over in the House.  Your representatives are back in your district this week for House recess, the perfect time to hear from you – their constituents – on the importance of salvaging our nation’s infrastructure investments. 

Transportation funding is critical to America's competitiveness and our economic recovery. 

This bill is Congress' chance to do something about it. Contact your members and urge their support for this important bill.

Super Tuesday's Wake-Up Call

Voters in ten states headed to the polls yesterday for “Super Tuesday,” reminding us that this election year is in full swing. 

Yesterday's events should also provide us with a wake-up call that now is our opportunity to help bring America back and restore the role of the American Free Enterprise system.  We passionately believe that it’s time to stop apologizing for the one thing in our society that really works.

Instead of empowering business creators, Washington’s solution over the last few years has been more government. Rather than leaving businesses to do what they do best, they’re facing tax-hikes and increased regulations and mandates – only breeding more uncertainty and hesitation – not forced growth.

A lot is at stake for the future of our economy  in the upcoming House and Senate elections, and we know that we can’t sit on the sidelines. 

U.S. Chamber President, Tom Donohue was quoted online yesterday saying:

Some business adversaries would like nothing better than to silence the voice of business. That’s why you see legislative efforts to shut us out of the political process. We’re not going to let that happen. We’re going to get involved and stay engaged. We’re going to champion free enterprise and fight for policies that will revitalize our economy and put millions of Americans back to work. Pro-growth policies—such as producing more American energy and rebuilding our infrastructure, expanding trade and tourism, reforming our legal and regulatory systems, encouraging innovation, and reining in deficit spending—can help get our economy back on track.

We won’t stand idly by.

It’s up to us to ensure that these elections will guarantee that our nation’s doers, dreamers and risk takers are able to continue to create jobs and opportunity for the American people.

Click here to learn more about our historic 2012 voter education campaign, and leave a comment below to tell us -- how are you staying engaged in 2012?