U.S. Chamber Blasted for Weak-Kneed Response to Climate Change Legislation

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, November 3, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a press release in which it said it supports strong federal climate change legislation. In a letter to Senators Boxer and Inhofe, the Chamber called for a fresh approach that strikes the right balance between new and conventional sources of energy to smoothly transition to a low-carbon future.

Several prominent companies, including Apple Inc. and PG&E Corp., have recently left the Chamber in protest of its opposition to the climate bills in Congress. Tuesday's statement appeared to be a softening of the Chamber's position in response to pressure it has received from some members.

Proponents of climate change legislation were quick to capitalize on the Chamber's statement. Senator Boxer immediately issued a press release citing the letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in trying to break a Republican boycott that could prevent her committee from voting on a cap-and-trade.

Other organizations were disappointed by the Chamber's apparent change in position. "It appears the Chamber is willing to trade away the interests of American business and citizens in exchange for the appearance of being politically correct," said Jeff Davis, president of Minnesota Majority and member of the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition.

Climate change legislation is projected to have severe consequences for American businesses and jobs. Heritage Foundation has estimated that cap-and-trade legislation could result in the loss of over 2 million American jobs and a loss of over $160 billion in GDP by 2020. Heritage says that Americans will get almost nothing in exchange and that the legislation will provide nothing for future generations except more debt and less economic opportunity.

"It's ironic that at a time when the science is now discrediting the theory of man-made global warming that the Chamber would choose to buckle to pressure of the green extortionists," said Davis. "It seems to me that American businesses would be better served to find another organization to represent their interests."