Friday
May142010
Chamber Of Commerce Chastises Labor Unions And Democrats Over Free Trade Stance
Friday, May 14, 2010 at 4:20PM
As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launches a major campaign to encourage lawmakers to adopt additional Free Trade Agreements, the head of the pro-business lobby took aim at two opponents to the treaties: labor unions and the Democratic party.
"Regrettably, we don't have [a free trade] agenda in our country today," Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue said during a speech at the National Press Club Friday. "The reason why is as clear as it is indefensible; Organized labor spent in excess of $400 million in the last election to help elect the current administration and the Congressional majority."
Donohue's remarks coincided with the release of a new study commissioned by the Chamber promoting the economic and employment benefits of the free-trade agreements. According to the Chamber, the existing agreements have created 5.4 million American jobs and contribute $300 billion to U.S. economic growth annually.
Labor leaders have long argued that free trade agreements will give American workers an unfair disadvantage and that previous agreements, such as NAFTA, have lead to outsourcing.
However, the Chamber president downplayed these criticisms and explained that nearly half of those within unions are public employees and thus are not at risk for outsourcing.
"If you ever could take those issues and solve them right now, then tomorrow morning the labor unions would have another issue," Donohue quipped.
Donohue noted that while the Chamber is not strictly affiliated with one political party, additional Republican seats will benefit the lobby's attempt to expand free trade. The president added that the Chamber will be involved in the upcoming mid-term election and criticized attempts to craft a bill to counteract the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission as "patently political."
"Regrettably, we don't have [a free trade] agenda in our country today," Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue said during a speech at the National Press Club Friday. "The reason why is as clear as it is indefensible; Organized labor spent in excess of $400 million in the last election to help elect the current administration and the Congressional majority."
Donohue's remarks coincided with the release of a new study commissioned by the Chamber promoting the economic and employment benefits of the free-trade agreements. According to the Chamber, the existing agreements have created 5.4 million American jobs and contribute $300 billion to U.S. economic growth annually.
Labor leaders have long argued that free trade agreements will give American workers an unfair disadvantage and that previous agreements, such as NAFTA, have lead to outsourcing.
However, the Chamber president downplayed these criticisms and explained that nearly half of those within unions are public employees and thus are not at risk for outsourcing.
"If you ever could take those issues and solve them right now, then tomorrow morning the labor unions would have another issue," Donohue quipped.
Donohue noted that while the Chamber is not strictly affiliated with one political party, additional Republican seats will benefit the lobby's attempt to expand free trade. The president added that the Chamber will be involved in the upcoming mid-term election and criticized attempts to craft a bill to counteract the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission as "patently political."
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