Doug Loon - US Chamber Update for MACE 2012

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

MACE 2012 Sioux Falls, South Dakota

May 10, 2012

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

100th Anniversary

The U.S. Chamber was founded April 22nd, 1912. 700 delegates from businesses, chambers, and associations throughout the country assemble at the request of U.S. President William Howard Taft.

By 1920, Chamber business members rose to 13,106.

In 1921, the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organization Management Program was born.

During World War II, U.S. defense and war agencies turned to the Chamber for advice and assistance in procurement and other war time needs.

Gov. Ronald Reagan, a future U.S. president, spoke at the Chamber’s 60th annual meeting to appeal for a better relationship between business and government.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Q1 Small Business Outlook Survey

• Small business confidence is increasing (7% increase since January)

• Hiring remained stagnant• 52% cite regulations as the top threat to their

business • 80% report taxation, regulation, and

legislation from Washington make it harder for their business to hire more employees

• 73% cite the recent health care law as an obstacle to growing their business and hiring more employees

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

American Jobs and Growth Agenda

• Producing American Energy and Rebuilding our Infrastructure

• Expanding Trade and Tourism

• Enact Regulatory Reform

• Encourage Innovation

• Control Government Spending, Taxes and Reform Entitlements

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

The 2012 ElectionsPolitical Landscape:

– President’s Job Approval: 47% approval / 47% disapproval

– Congressional Job Approval: 14% approval / 78% disapproval

– Generic Congressional Vote: 43% R / 41% R (GOP +2)

Senate: Currently 51 D / 47 R / 2 I (Rs need 3 + for control) 2012 Senate Elections: 23 D / 10 R

– 9 of the 23 seats held by Democrats voted for Bush or McCain in the past two Presidential elections

– 7 Dem held seats are “toss up” = HI, MO, MT, NM, ND, VA & WI– 2 R held seats are “toss up” = MA , ME and NV– 1 Dem held seat is “likely R” = NE

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

The 2012 ElectionsU.S. House: Currently 242 R / 191 D (Ds + 26 for control)

• 31 members of the House (18 Democrats and 13 Republicans) have announced that they are not running for reelection

• 24 members are running against each other, thanks to redistricting:

– 7 races feature two D s

– 3 feature two Rs

– 2 feature a member from each party

• Toss Up Races: 14 R / 7 D

• Likely to switch: 4 R / 5 D

Can we build a pro-business working majority?

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

The 2012 “Fiscal Cliff”

2001 & 2003 Tax Cuts

AMT Patch

“Doc Fixes”

Payroll Tax Holiday

Unemployment Benefits Extension

Highway Trust Fund Shortfall

Budget Control Act Budget Cuts

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

• Institute for Organization Management (IOM) is an education and professional development program for association & chamber of commerce professionals.

• Offers courses on topics such as membership, finance, legal issues human resources, and much more.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

• Only program of its kind that defines excellence in chamber planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding contributions toward positive change in their communities.

• To achieve Accreditation, a chamber must demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and effective communications by meeting minimum standards in its operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology.

• Accreditation applications are accepted only three times per year: March 31, August 31, December 31.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

• The Free Enterprise Network (FEN) provides partnering organizations with an independent website to support advocacy efforts.

• FEN is built on a custom Content Management System that allows you to tailor your site according to your specific branding, security, content, and messaging needs.

• Free Enterprise Network enrollment is a complimentary benefit for certain membership levels of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

• Coalition of business, associations, and chambers that promote the benefits of Canadian oil sands and supports investment in critical North American energy projects, including the Keystone XL pipeline.

• Join today atwww.fuelingus.org. There’s no cost to join and be informed.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

International trade supports millions of American jobs.

More than 95% of the world’s consumers live outside our borders.

Using www.tradesupportsjobs.com, you will see how exports drive economic growth and support jobs right where you live.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

• The U.S. transportation system is in trouble. Nearly 1/3 of roads are in poor or mediocre condition and one-fourth of the nation's bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

• The Make Transportation Job #1 campaign supports an adequately funded long term surface transportation bill.

• The surface transportation reauthorization legislation needs your vocal support.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

The Workforce Freedom Initiative is a grassroots mobilization and advocacy campaign of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to preserve democracy in the American workplace and block any anti-competitive efforts by labor activists. Such efforts include:•Ambush elections.

•Releasing worker info to Unions.

•Cyber Card Check.

•The “Persuader Rule”

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

Resources

FreeEnterprise.com is your home for free market news and ideas.

•Opinion pieces from free enterprise advocates, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and policy shapers.•Social media features so that you can engage, debate, and activate.•Timely stories that delve into the issues facing the state of American free enterprise and business today.•Newsmaker interviews that take you inside the minds of successful leaders and decision makers.•Video and photos that bring free enterprise to life.•How-to articles to sharpen your entrepreneurial and business skills.

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

USCC Midwest Regional Office Is On Facebook!

Why should you become a fan?

• Latest news on USCC Programs.

• Know what’s happening in D.C.

• Opportunity to provide real-time

updates and feedback (Tell us what’s

going on at your chamber!)

• See what other Chambers in the

Region are doing.

‘Like Us’ at www.facebook.com/uschambermidwest

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

U.S. Chamber of CommerceMidwest Regional Office

Questions?

Doug Loon952.832.9151