Business Is Heard

 

 

By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

 

When the business community is focused, united, and vocal, it can create real policy change in Washington, D.C. I've never seen a better example of this than during the week of September 29. On Monday of that week, the House rejected the financial rescue plan, 228-205. A vocal segment of the population had convinced its representatives to vote against the measure.

 

The U.S. Chamber and the business community simply wouldn't accept that outcome. The package was essential for restoring credit availability and getting our economy moving again. Over the next 96 hours, members of the business community, encouraged by the Chamber, inundated their representatives with letters, e-mails, and phone calls, and even appeared on television and radio.

 

According to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), constituents early in the week called his office to oppose the deal. By the end of the week, however, Issa was receiving calls from donors supporting the deal because "they got a call from the Chamber or someone." The Senate passed the package on Wednesday, and the House reversed course and cleared it on Friday, 263-171.

 

It will take time and other steps to restore credit and confidence to Main Street, but this rescue plan, at least, gives us a fighting chance. I applaud the business owners who, through grassroots activism, prevented a catastrophic economic collapse. In the months ahead, I hope we can put forth the same effort on taxes, infrastructure investment, energy policy, and other critical issues.