U.S. Chamber of Commerce slams Obama on budget proposal

[babylonsister]

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/02/26/business-ally-for-obama-on-stimulus-slams-budget/

Business ally for Obama on stimulus slams budget
@ 4:13 pm by Hill Staff


One of the key backers of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package whole-heartedly turned against his budget proposal Thursday.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce took aim at the more than $3.5 trillion budget for its tax hikes and new regulations. The White House plans to use revenue gleaned from new taxes to help pay for $634 billion in health care spending, being touted as a down-payment for Obama’s ambitious reform plan. But the trade association believes the blueprint laid out by the president will stall the country’s economic recovery by saddling small businesses with new tax burdens.

Bruce Josten, the Chamber’s executive vice president for government affairs, blasted the White House budget in a statement.

“While we have not seen all the details, the president’s disappointing budget proposal appears to move in exactly the wrong direction. More taxes, heavy-handed regulations, and command-and-control government will not hasten recovery. Instead, it will delay it and do so at a terrible cost to taxpayers, businesses, and working families,” Josten said.

The brush back against the budget by the Chamber follows its full support of Obama’s stimulus package. The business group, along with other like-minded allies, were considered vital in solidifying backing among lawmakers for the economic rescue bill. For example, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), one of only three Republicans in the upper chamber to vote for the bill, often reminded reporters of the Chamber’s endorsement of the legislation to explain his own support.

But Josten said that the business association could not get behind Obama’s budget proposal because they did not believe it would speed economic recovery.

“While we recognize and support more government involvement in the economy to help address our worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, we can’t forget that real growth comes from the doers, dreamers, and risk takers who run America’s millions of small businesses. If we take away their incentives to take risks, grow, and succeed — as this budget does — we will be unnecessarily shooting ourselves in the foot,” Josten said.

– Kevin Bogardus

[Stellabella]

1. What a bunch of maroons.

This is a conservative repig organization, you know.

[leftstreet]

2. The Chamber of CONmerce should be abolished!

“While we recognize and support more government involvement in the economy to help address our worst economic crisis since the Great Depression..."

Translation: "We only like the BAILOUT stuff!"

[Idealism]

3. These assholes are also against the Employee Free Choice Act

They are against the average American having a say in the corporate world. Fuck them.

[fascisthunter]

10. anyone against that is an enemy of the working class

[msongs]

4. chamber of commerce is a subcommitte of the republican party lol nt

[babylonsister]

6. Then that surely wouldn't explain why they backed the stim plan. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. "...we can’t forget that real growth comes from the doers, dreamers, and risk takers..."

What are CoC'ers doing in the CoC?

Shouldn't they be doin', dreamin' and riskin'?


:think:

[donco6]

7. In other words, they're fine with getting bailed out . . .

. . . but when government actually wants to provide services, that's a bad thing.

[acmavm]

8. The Chamber of Commerce is NOT your friend.

[trof]

9. And water is wet. What else is new? n/t