PRESS RELEASE Contact:
Christine Hall, 202.331.2258
U. S. Chamber Caves to Special Interests on Energy-Rationing Legislation
CEI Invites Small Businesses to Join With CEI to Fight Kerry-Graham
Washington, D.C., November 4, 2009 – The Competitive Enterprise Institute responded today to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s announcement that it will now support energy-rationing legislation by calling on small businesses to drop their Chamber membership and join CEI in fighting this catastrophic legislation.
In a November 3 letter to Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Chamber announced that it would now support legislation based on a recent New York Times op-ed by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
“It appears that the Chamber has caved under enormous pressure from some of its biggest member companies. They have reluctantly enlisted in the effort to reward these big special interests with gigantic windfall profits at the expense of consumers and small businesses,” said Myron Ebell, CEI Director of Energy and Global Warming Policy.
“We invite small businesses whose interests are no longer being well-represented by the Chamber on this critical issue to drop their membership in the U.S. Chamber and join us at CEI in fighting against all energy-rationing legislation, even so-called compromises that only partly wreck the economy. We welcome their support. We will not capitulate,” said Ebell.
“In its letter, the Chamber repeatedly cites the Oct. 14 Kerry-Graham op-ed in The New York Times as the reason for cuddling up to cap-and-trade,” noted CEI Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis. “But the Kerry-Graham column was a hopelessly confused muddle.” (Dr. Lewis explains why it is a muddle here.)
- To support CEI’s efforts to defend consumers from needless energy taxes, visit CEI.org/support, or contact Al Canata.
- Read more on energy policy and global warming at Globalwarming.org
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Suckers. I have resigned….
Holy Cow, this is BIG!!
Not good but BIG!
Don’t these stupidos realise that once they have given, they cannot take back? And, when the promised free spondulics do not arrive, they are screwed?
The Chamber had an admirable position based on principle, and now has endorsed a calamitous policy (because of an op-ed?). Between this and AARP endorsing the Pelosi healthcare bill, it makes you wonder if there are any organizations left with integrity.
Hey, let’s destroy America!
After all, this is what the INTERNATIONAL left wants!
This is just sooo suicidal! American Capitalists, where are you????
Imault, you are guilty!
Energy rationing for its industry? The very primary ingredient for production (and quality of life)! America is rapidly on its way to becoming a second rate power.
Racketeering!
The Chicago Mob is living in WA-DC!
The only ground we should give: mass burial plots for the enemies of the US Constitution.
GIVE NO GROUND!!!
Well crud.
It’s pure blackmail and arm twisting, the trademark of the AGW cronies.
The announced process has to be continued and all entrepreneurs who believe in freedom and free enterprise should leave this Chamber of Commerce for what it is.
The Competitive Enterprise Institute takes action on this and I think this a brilliant solution. No public organization should cave in to any pressure and they will feel the consequences from both sides. Small companies are the big paying majority and I hope they will leave the Chamber en mass.
I am quite confident the “Old Boys” network is infiltrated now which is a dire indicator of what is going to happen in the Senate.
Americans have to find a way to resist this because it will destroy your society, economy and freedom.
These are practices which normally happen in countries referred to as BANANA REPUBLICS.
It’s a disgrace.
Tomorrow there will be spontanious demonstrations in Washington and the Town Hall’s against the current Government.
So those who resist are not alone.
Opposition is building.
I couldn’t get the links to work but by reading the full links, I came across this one…
http://www.masterresource.org/2009/10/kerry-boxer-its-bite-is-worse-than-its-bark
Now that scares the crap out of me!
DaveE.
Ron de Haan referred to banana republics, agreeing with one of my fears: America may make history by becoming the first banana republic to possess nuclear weapons.
I am particularly disappointed with Lindsey Graham, who ought to know better.
Actually, if you read the sKerry op-ed piece, taking the first letter of each second word, it spells out “do what we say or we burn down your business and break your legs”. So, technically, they did make the decision after reading the op-ed piece.
Seriously, I’m not a fan of characterising it as “enormous pressure”, in fact it was a gigantic carrot and a bit of blackmail.
I was trying to come up with an analogy to explain to someone what this means, but I can’t find anything ridiculous enough. How about two men lost in the desert, voting to voluntarily discard their last canteen of water?
Only sensible things in the Kerry/Graham article were, streamlining the permissions schedules for nuclear & exploit your own gas & oil.
DaveE.
This is really sad…For originally taking such a position and then saying Ok you get your way!!!! Did they ask the 3,000 members what they thought of this matter??? Probably not! Money talks!
Apple recently quit the US Chamber of Commerce. With Al Gore as a director of Apple we can see the pressure being put on the Chamber. I suppose the Chamber is tying to plug the holes. This is the Chamber blog: http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/11/climate-change—a-different-approach.html
Lindsay Graham has obviously lost his conservative mind, a sad day indeed.
Here is the Chambers blog site, and so far it is open to comment.
http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/11/climate-change—a-different-approach.html
paulk,
Sorry, I did not notice you had posted the same link.
[snip]
It will be telling to see how many businesses transfer memberships. It seems very similar to IPCC and the recent 18 science orgs whose leadership supported cap and steal (except the APS! What happened to the ACS?) where the rank and file was not consulted. The leadership seems (like many CEOs and Boards) that they are, and can, make hugely impacting decisions for the org, and they can if nobody confronts them.
The word needs to get out to the membership of the Chamber so they are informed of the appeal to them by CEI. Very important.
Also, the Tea Party is having a call, fax, email-in to Congress tomorrow. Another opportunity for mass input to save ourselves – don’t think anyone else will.
News on Graham – he’s no conservative. He’s a compromiser – can’t we all just get along?
More on Graham: Damn the consequences.
Hunter, no problem. I am disturbed by Graham’s thinking and sent him a email complaining about his loss of conservative thinking. I thought bi partisan meant checking for the truth from both sides, not giving in without full examination of the facts.
We should make a call to Glenn Beck and organize a call to all small business owners to quit the Chamber of Commerce, throw out their Apple Computers a.o.
Beck today missed and interview with Palin because his appendix was taken out, so maybe he is in the right mood to follow up on this.
Yes, I know, Glenn Beck is not everybody’s friend, but I was really impressed with the Monckton/Bolton interview.
Let’s grab those SOB’s where it hurts them most, in their wallets.