The two highest-ranking Republican leaders in the US House are going to war with the US Chamber of Commerce as the new Congress approaches.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise both declined to meet with the chamber because the lobbying group backed a handful of Democrats in the last two elections, clearly making an enemy of two of Congress’ most powerful leaders.
“The priorities of the US Chamber of Commerce are not aligned with the priorities of the House Republicans or the interests of their own members, and as long as this is the case, they should not expect a meeting with Speaker McCarthy,” Mark Bedner , a chief spokesman for McCarthy, told CNBC in a statement.
Scalise also will not meet with the chamber, according to spokeswoman Lauren Fine.
“Washington has fundamentally moved away from the pro-business philosophy of most local chambers across America,” she said. Fine also hit out at the chamber’s move to support Democrats running for House seats, saying that “unless the chamber goes back to its traditional pro-business roots, they shouldn’t have anything to do with Majority Leader Scalise’s office.” Shouldn’t even expect a connection.
Denying access to the chamber could also prompt other House Republicans to block the nation’s largest business organization.
The chamber continues to actively lobby on Capitol Hill, despite ongoing battles with top Republicans. The group spent less than $21 million on lobbying in the fourth quarter of last year alone., As per their latest disclosure report. The form shows that he lobbied Biden White House officials in the House and Senate as well as on a variety of bills, including new tax proposals as well as US aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
McCarthy’s refusal to meet with the chamber is the latest strike in an ongoing feud between some House Republican members and the Chamber of Commerce. The Intercept reported that House Republicans are planning to investigate the chamber as GOP lawmakers rally support for President Joe Biden’s push for more environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations. The Daily Caller reported that the chamber plans to sue the Securities and Exchange Commission if it moves forward with the climate change disclosure rule.
Republican House lawmakers are drafting questions to send to the chamber in the coming weeks, asking about its stance on ESG issues as well as some of the chamber’s own conduct, including former chamber CEO Thomas Donohue is also allowed to personally use the business group’s corporate jet. Visits by MPs and consultants for the purpose of examining the organization. These people declined to be named in order to speak freely about private discussions.
Tim Doyle, a spokesman for the chamber of commerce, told CNBC in a statement that the group’s policies are more in line with House Republicans than Democrats.
“The Chamber’s priorities include low taxes, low spending, fighting redundancies and many other issues, and we are aligned with House Republicans on many issues that matter to American businesses of all sizes,” Doyle said. “We disagree with those who believe that the Chamber should become a partisan partisan organization and we recognize that the difference has created some tension. However, we will continue to do what we have done for over 110 years and that is Free to move forward.” -market priorities of the American business community.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Alice Stefanik, Rn.Y., and Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala. Representatives did not return a request for comment.
McCarthy’s anger against the chamber began after the group endorsed 23 House Democrats in the 2020 election cycle when Republicans failed to win a majority. The chamber has reportedly endorsed 23 House Republican candidates and four Democrats during the 2022 election battle.
McCarthy told Breitbart News last year before the recent November elections that “Chamber left the party a long time ago” and criticized the organization for supporting the Democrats. McCarthy said at the time, “I just believe that he has as much influence in the future as he has now – none.”
Axios reported that McCarthy has privately discussed the idea of ​​replacing current chamber president and CEO Suzanne Clark with chamber of commerce board members and state leaders. The chamber’s CEO was recently approved for a new five-year term, according to a memo sent by board chairman Mark Orden to the board of directors. A memorandum was sent to the board members on Monday.
While McCarthy takes aim at the chamber, the business lobbying juggernaut continues its business as usual.
Neil Bradley, McCarthy’s former deputy chief of staff and current executive vice president and chief policy officer at the chamber, recently said that its “team engages leadership and presidents and rank-and-file members on a daily and weekly basis. It’s always Happens. Has been the case and hasn’t changed over the past year.”
The Chamber of Commerce’s latest public tax documents for 2021 show the organization raised just over $197 million that year, on top of the $218 million it raised in 2020. More than $105 million of its budget in 2021 went toward salaries and employee benefits, the forms show.
Donohue, who is stepping down from Chamber as CEO in 2021, collected $9.2 million in total compensation that year. Donohue’s compensation in 2021 included $8.95 million in bonuses and incentive pay, according to the form.
“Mr. Donohue’s compensation consisted of his bonus payment for 2020 activities and a proportionate portion of his bonus payment for 2021 activities, both of which were paid to him in 2021,” the filing said.
Clark, who is now the lobbying group’s president and CEO, sees compensation totaling $5.1 million in 2021, according to the form. This includes a bonus and incentive package of $3.75 million.
