Friends of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Tom Donohue on his Keystone Pipeline push

A recent poll showed that 69% of American support building the Keystone XL pipeline and other projects that would bring North American oil to U.S. refineries. With gas prices on close to a $.50 rise since January, it’s no wonder that more than two-thirds of Americans are looking for greater access to secure oil supplies.
 
Tom Donohue, the Chamber's President and CEO, was on Fox News with Neil Cavuto yesterday to discuss why passing the pipeline is a good idea for American jobs and energy security. Following news that the U.S. Chamber had reached an agreement on lesser-skilled work visas, he also discussed why immigration reform will help keep America and American jobs competitive.
 
Watch the full clip below.

Not a spending problem?

This weekend, Nancy Pelosi told Fox News Sunday that “it is almost a false argument to say we have a spending problem.”  

In reality, America is $16.5 trillion in debt and $122.6 trillion in unfunded liabilities. That works out to over $146,000 of debt and over $1 million in liabilities per taxpayer.  

So, what do you think? Does America have a spending problem?  Watch the full interview, and leave your comments below. 

Tom Donohue discusses immigration reform

The Final Ingredient

For many months, you’ve stood with us to create the largest voter education and grassroots mobilization program in the Chamber’s 100-year history, carrying the message that economic growth and a strong free enterprise system are fundamental to creating jobs, prosperity, and opportunity for all.

Now with Election Day almost upon us, the success of these efforts rests on one remaining essential ingredient—making sure that those who support and believe in this economic freedom turn out to vote in this critical election.

We’re highlighting exactly what’s at stake in our new Get Out the Vote video released today.

The only way out of the problems we face is to drive economic growth from one end of this country to the other.

By voting this Election Day, you have the opportunity to help build a jobs and growth agenda for America that is rooted in free markets, less government, lower taxes, and free trade. It's time to stop punishing success and promote opportunity for all.

Visit www.VoteForJobs2012.com to watch our new video.

I hope you’ll take a moment to share this important message with your friends and family.

With strong free enterprise support in Congress, we can put the economic struggles of recent years behind us and create a new era of jobs, prosperity, and hope for our future.

It starts with American voting for jobs. And it starts with you this November 6th.

Is it too late to avoid a recession?

The Long and Short of the Fiscal Cliff

As Congress continues to play “chicken” with the Fiscal Cliff, the business community is experiencing a tremendous amount of uncertainty caused by the unknown impact of the impending tax hikes and sequestration cuts.

So, even if Congress acts to avoid the Fiscal Cliff before the January 1 deadline, is it too late to avoid another recession? 

In this week’s Tax Fact of the Week, the Chamber’s Chief Economist, Dr. Martin Regalia, tells us the immediate and long-term implications of our country’s fiscal dilemma.

We’re staring down the largest tax increase in American history if Congress doesn’t act.

Click here to visit The Fiscal Cliff Countdown and tell Congress to act now to head off this problem before it’s too late.

The U.S. Chamber Endorses Charlie Summers for U.S. Senate

Earlier this week, the U.S. Chamber spent the day traveling the state of Maine with U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Summers, meeting with small business owners discussing his plan to help entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Charlie for U.S. Senate because, as someone who grew up working in his family’s business, he understands the challenges that job creators face.

Senate races around the country like Maine's, will determine whether we have a pro-business Senate and the course of our country for decades to come. Check out the video from this week's event where Charlie will tells the citizens of Maine that it’s the free-market system, not the federal government, that will power America’s economic recovery.

U.S. Chamber Calls Elizabeth Warren Greatest Threat to Free Enterprise

Click here to view the original article from NECN.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Mass. Sen. Scott Brown in his re-election campaign, and its political director attacked his Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Warren.

"No other candidate in 2012 represents a greater threat to free enterprise than Professor Warren," said Rob Engstrom, U.S. Chamber's political director.

Engstrom was in Boston to endorse Brown, but his words were more focused on Warren.

"Some of the comments she's made about throwing rocks at people who disagree with her is fundamentally unacceptable to the American business community," said Engstrom. "She talks about blood and teeth on the floor - that's no way to lead."

Warren supporters say this is not an endorsement from your local, hometown civic organization. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, they say, represents big corporations and rich people working to weaken financial reforms.

But from the 100-year-old Harry Miller Textile Company in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, Brown proudly embraced the support.

"It means a lot to get the endorsement from the world's largest pro-business organization that advocates for jobs, job creation and job growth throughout this country," said Brown.

Meanwhile, the Mass. Democratic Party released a web video saying that Brown was leaving the Boston event to head to a New York City fundraiser at the home of Mayor Michael Bloomberg - an independent who has been outspoken in his support of Wall Street.

Warren has also pointed to votes Brown took in July against extending the Bush tax cuts for those earning $250,000 or less. Brown says he wants to extend the tax cuts for all income groups.

"America's working families are on the ropes and they can't take much more and ... the Romney Ryan Brown approach is a punch in the gut to them," said Warren.

"I know that Professor Warren would love to run against Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, but unfortunately she's running against me," said Brown.

The Numbers that Matter

151 Days – the countdown continues. 

You can’t argue with the facts – and with your help, we’re getting the facts straight as it relates to the impending Fiscal Cliff.

Politicians in Washington have focused on the fact that only 2 to 3 percent of taxpayers will be impacted by the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax rates for higher income earners.

But that’s not the point. The point is that thousands of businesses, and the jobs they create, will be threatened. 53% of small business income would be hit by higher taxes if rates on sucessful small businesses are allowed to rise. 

Watch our Chief Tax Policy Counsel, Caroline Harris, outline why the percentage of taxpayers doesn’t matter as much as the disruption to business does.

Job creators need to know what their tax rates will be in order to have certainty and make the investments necessary to keep our economy growing.

Find out why Congress must act before it’s too late.

Gene Simmons surprises vet with dream job: KISS roadie!

Rock Band KISS Hires Veteran for 2012 Tour as Part of U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes Program
Gene Simmons Makes Exclusive Announcement Live on NBC’s ‘TODAY’

PRESS RELEASE: May 23, 2012

NEW YORK, NY—As part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Chamber Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, world-renowned rock band KISS hired a veteran to serve as a roadie on its 2012 concert tour. Gene Simmons made the announcement this morning live on NBC’s TODAY.

“We should all step up and give our heroes, our vets, a job,” said Simmons on TODAY. “It’s the least we can do. They volunteered for us. Our heroes go and represent us on the field of battle, voluntarily. Then they come back and we throw them back out here, good luck, get a job. They should have guaranteed jobs, and you out there, get off your behinds and give our heroes a job. This is in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce.”

Army veteran and longtime KISS fan Paul Jordan was selected after a review of 1,900 applications received by Hiring Our Heroes. Jordan, who is from Buford, Georgia, served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He will start in July as a tour carpenter on the 44-city KISS tour. “It’s a dream come true,” said Jordan on TODAY. “I’ve always wanted to be involved with KISS somehow. I mean, I’ve been a fan since I was four years old. And wow, this is incredible.”

KISS made the commitment to hire a veteran for its upcoming tour on March 28, the day Hiring Our Heroes, the National Chamber Foundation, and Capital One announced the “Hiring 500,000 Heroes” campaign. The goal of the initiative is to engage the business community in committing to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014. In less than two months, the campaign has received more than 181,000 commitments.

“We are thrilled to see KISS follow through on its commitment to hire a veteran for its upcoming tour,” said retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, Kevin Schmiegel, executive director of the U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes program. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Paul, and we are glad Hiring Our Heroes could play a part in making his dream come true. We hope business owners across America will follow Gene Simmons’ call to action and realize the value of hiring our nation’s talented veterans and military spouses.”

In March 2011, the Chamber, in conjunction with the National Chamber Foundation, launched its Hiring Our Heroes program, a nationwide effort to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. The Chamber started the program to improve public-private sector coordination in local communities, where veterans and their families are returning every day. To date, Hiring Our Heroes has hosted 176 hiring fairs in 48 states and the District of Columbia, helping close to 10,000 veterans and military spouses find employment.

Click here make your committment to the "Hiring 500,000 Heroes" Program. 

2012 Voter Education and Grassroots Mobilization Campaign

Last week, the U.S. Chamber launched the latest wave of our 2012 voter education and grassroots mobilization campaign – the largest and most aggressive of its kind in the Chamber’s 100 year history.

This November, voters have the choice between more government mandated solutions or the resurgence of free enterprise, the one economic system that will allow job creators, investors and the American people to lead our economic recovery. With your help, and the help of state and local chambers of commerce, we’re working across the nation to make sure jobs are on the ballot this November.

We’re shedding light on which candidates are willing to fight for the ideals of American enterprise, and who will continue to inflict taxes, regulatory barriers and out of control spending on small businesses.

Watch the latest round of our voter education ads below.

Vote for Jobs, It's That Simple

The U.S. Chamber is currently engaged in a historic, multi-state voter education campaign to ensure American voters know where their candidates stand on the issue of jobs.

Are they supporting pro-jobs policies to advance American Free Enterprise and put America back to work?

Or are they playing politics over smart policy ... blocking common sense measures that will get our economy back on track?

Today, we highlight three of our most recent ads that let voters know where Senator Sherrod Brown, Congressman Rick Berg, and Congressman. Jim Matheson stand:

Ohio: Senator Sherrod Brown

Business owners across the country cite the health care law as a major hindrance to hiring and growing their operations. In Ohio, more than 2.2 million Ohioans voted to reject Obamacare. Pretty clear message, right?

Not to Senator Sherrod Brown, who called the vote “confusing,” saying that it didn’t tell us anything. We’re airing this ad to help remind Ohio voters that it was Sherrod Brown’s vote that helped allow Obamacare to pass the Senate:



North Dakota: Congressman Rick Berg

While Sherrod Brown is voting for job-killing policies like Obamacare - North Dakota Congressman Rick Berg is championing measures to put people in his state back to work. For example, he supports the Keystone XL pipeline, which would create tens our thousands of new American jobs and help secure America’s energy future.  Berg rejected President Obama’s politically motivated decision to reject the XL Pipeline and the jobs it’ll create.  In this ad, we highlight how Rick Berg stood up for new American jobs and new American energy:



Utah: Congressman Jim Matheson

Another Congressman fighting for American free enterprise is Jim Matheson of Utah.  He understands that for businesses to create jobs, they can’t be over burdened by oppressive taxes and regulatory red tape.  Matheson has a record of voting to lower taxes on businesses and reduce government regulations so that American free enterprise can grow, innovate, and create jobs. Watch our new ad about Congressman Matheson here:

These are just a few samples of our voter education efforts that are currently underway. 

We invite you to click here to view all of our ads and learn how you can join our effort to ensure that America Votes for Jobs in 2012.

VIDEO: Free enterprise will bring America back

Last week, the U.S. Chamber launched its second round of 2012 Issue Ads in states and districts across the country.  It's all part of our largest voter eduction efforts to date - and it's only just the beginning.

These ads clearly demonstrate that the 2012 Elections will be a contest between those who believe Free Enterprise will bring America back, and those who favor Big Government.In listening to people around the country and looking at the principles our nation were founded upon, it's clear that Free Enterprise is the way to go.  

Please take a moment to view these videos and learn more about the issues affecting communities around the country.

More Than Statistics: Meet the Real Victims of Lawsuit Abuse

A few weeks ago, we sat down with Lisa Rickard, Executive Vice President of the U.S. Chamber and President of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Lawsuit Reform (ILR) and Workforce Freedom Initiative, to discuss the impact of lawsuit abuse on America’s economic recovery.

Did you know that lawsuit abuse costs small businesses up to $100 billion each year? That's the same sector responsible for 64 percent of all new jobs created in the U.S economy. More jobs, higher wages and better benefits could be provided if the average small business earning $1 million in revenue wasn't spending $20,000 each year on an out of control lawsuit system.

But lawsuit abuse is about more than just numbers. It impacts real people, and real small businesses.

Watch the videos below to hear the real stories of how lawsuit abuse has threatened the futures of two family-owned businesses — a Mexican restaurant and a coffee shop — in California.

These stories are part of ILR’s Faces of Lawsuit Abuse campaign. Do you know a small business facing a frivolous lawsuit? Visit Faces of Lawsuit Abuse to share your story.

Sen. Rubio Meets with Jacksonville Small Biz Roundtable

Small businesses around the country are meeting with their members of Congress to voice their concerns and challenges in regards to growing and thriving in our current economy.  Senator Rubio, member of the Senate Small Business Committee, met with the Jacksonville small business community this week, and here’s what they had to say:

How are the small businesses in your community fairing in today’s economic environment?

Fighting Back Against the NLRB

Perhaps nothing embodies the notion of the federal government getting in the way of American job creators more than the overreach of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The most outrageous example of this overreach, of course, is the NLRB’s recent attempt to prevent the Boeing Company from establishing a new non-union aircraft production facility in South Carolina, costing the state thousands of new, good paying jobs.

The U.S. Chamber is fighting back.

As The Hill reports, “Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a round of television ads in Florida, Pennsylvania and Virginia that criticized the NLRB for its Boeing complaint.”

Watch our new ad below, and share it with your friends, family and colleagues to help spread the word:

Learn more about the National Labor Relations Board here as Free Enterprise Magazine takes a look inside this little-known independent agency.