It seems that not a month goes by without the actions of the US Chamber of Commerce causing a degree of consternation for some our members and, through them, for your LCRCC. While we staunchly support the rights of groups to express the views of their members, we do take exception with the recent style and tonal quality of US Chamber message. Their support for a particular candidate in an upstate New York Congressional race embodied what most Vermonters would consider the worst elements of negative campaigning. These types of ads serve only to cheapen the debate and to lower the level of intellectual discourse.

Your Chamber has always believed that through education and issue-based advocacy, the electorate will make wise choices consistent with their best interest. Our job is to provide information, interpret it when asked, identify fact from opinion, and let our members make their own choices. We have shied away from political endorsements, preferring instead to publish politicians’ answers to our candidate surveys. (We also let our members know who refuses to answer our surveys. Folks can draw their own conclusions.) Our government affairs staff do not engage in polemics, preferring instead to take a reasoned approach to discourse. Folks who prefer to hear screaming pundits can listen to MSNBC, FOX or any other the news and radio shows that operate in an overly caffeinated manner.

We wish that the US Chamber of Commerce would handle their government affairs work differently. However, as an independent association they have the right to conduct their work as they deem to be in their members’ best interest. They do it their way; we do it our way. As for our membership in the US Chamber I must point out that there are member-based associations in Vermont that can be characterized as being to our left and to our right where we have both stylistic and policy differences. We remain members of some of these groups. By being connected to all sides of the debate we more fully understand the many voices of the business community, of our members and of Vermonters. In turn, this helps us be the best advocates we can be for a thriving private sector economy.