This election revealed some startling statistics about the lengths big business will go to influence policy on a national scale.
Decades ago the Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a Norman Rockwell-like image in the minds of many Americans: working in the interest of mom-and-pop stores everywhere and sponsoring community events such as Little League baseball and holiday parades.
And while there may still be some local chambers that fit that bill, this election cycle has given a much clearer picture of what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is all about – except when it comes to lobbying to make their health care more expensive, privatize their social security and outsource their jobs .
The U.S. Chamber stated that its goal has been to spend $75 million on a midterm election that will break fundraising records. Its war chest is devoted almost entirely to defeating Democrats who take on big corporate interests. While Chamber President and chief executive Tom Donohue would have Americans believe that his organization is still working in the interest of small and mid-sized businesses, that’s simply not true. In 2008, a third of its income came from just 19 members – big companies to whom the chamber is beholden . That probably explains why only 249 of 7,000 local chambers are now members, and why more and more are dropping out.
The Chamber spent over $1.3M to elect Rand Paul and $1.5M to defeat Adm Joe Sestak.
The Chamber will not disclose who is financing this campaign, fearing a public backlash. But we know the results: The 112th Congress will have more members to protect its pro-outsourcing, anti-middle class agenda.
So far, the Chamber’s spending contributed to the defeat of 21 incumbent Democrats. In all, the Chamber spent $32.1 million on ads or independent expenditures in 62 races. Five of those races are too close to call as of this afternoon. Of the remaining 59, the Chamber’s candidate won 38 of them — or 64 percent. The cost of those 38 wins: nearly $17.3 million.
