IT'S TIME TO END THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S MASQUERADE AS SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATES

A recent post on the U.S Chamber of Commerce website titled, "Business United or Business Divided - What's at Stake?" is one of the best examples you could find of typical U.S. Chamber propaganda. As he did in our heated exchange on CNBC, Chamber spokesman Giovanni Coratolo struggles to piece together a series of outright lies, blatant fabrications and misdirection to try and attack me and cover up the U.S Chamber's actual pro-Fortune 500 and anti-small business track record. (http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/06/business-united-or-business-divided-whats-at-stake.html")

If you haven't seen our debate on CNBC, you can find it on YouTube under, "ASBL President Lloyd Chapman spars with U.S. Chamber of Commerce." I hope
I get a chance to finish our debate on national television sometime soon. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWtLshGVEss">)

Let me focus on Giovanni's statement referring to the annual diversion of over $100 billion a year in federal small business contracts to corporate giants as a "niche issue" that will "impact only a small sliver of the business community."

The truth is, no issue affecting American small businesses has been the subject of more federal investigations and more stories in the mainstream media than the diversion of federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of other large businesses.

Since 2003, there have been over a dozen federal investigations on the issue and hundreds of stories. Every major newspaper in the country has reported on the problem along with major television networks like ABC, CBS and CNN.

In Report 5-15, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General stated, "One of the biggest challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today is that large businesses are receiving federal small business awards..." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf">)

In February of 2008, President Obama acknowledged the magnitude of the problem when he released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)

As opposed to the U.S. Chamber's position that this is a "niche issue" that will impact "only a small sliver of the business community," this issue has negatively impacted every man, woman and child in America. You don't have to be an economist to understand the diversion of over $100 billion a year from the middle class, year after year will have a devastating negative impact on the national economy.

The U.S Chamber claims to have 3 million members, 96% with less than 100 employees and 5% of those firms do business with the government. That comes out to 144,000 U.S Chamber members that are small businesses being negatively impacted by this issue.

Now let's look at what the U.S. Chamber has done over the last seven years to address what the SBA Inspector General referred to as one of the largest challenges facing the SBA and "the entire federal government today."

NOTHING!

No lobbying, no press conference, no press releases, no blog posts, no legislation, no lawsuits, no newspaper stories, no radio interviews, nothing on their website!

Why wouldn't the organization that claims to be the most powerful voice for small business in American lift a finger to address a problem that is impacting millions of small businesses, including 144,000 of their own members?

Because the Fortune 500 firms that are receiving the lion's share of all federal small business contracts are some of the most powerful members of the U.S. Chamber. Dozens of Fortune 500 firms that are currently receiving billions of dollars in federal small business contracts serve on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber.

Take a look at stories on this issue from the Associated Press, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Take a look at the investigative stories by ABC, CBS and CNN. (AP, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/07/politics/main552758.shtml"; NYT, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/business/06sba.html"; WaPo, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1179"; ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv"; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170")

Now take a look at the list of firms that belong to the U.S. Chamber and serve on their board. Over fifteen Fortune 500 firms on the U.S. Chamber board have received federal small business contracts. (http://www.uschamber.com/about/board/all.htm)

Small businesses in America need to quit listening to what the U.S Chamber says and start to watch what they do. If you do that, you will quickly realize they are no friend to American's 27 million small businesses.

Follow Lloyd Chapman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LloydChapman

Comments

[SBBeliever]

I am so tired of these organizations like the US CofC that say they are for "us" but really they are only working for deep pockets. They attempt to placate the MAJORITY of their members by patting us small business on the head and telling us we are good little monkeys.

What is happening to our world? Big business, big business, big business! Mom & Pop shops are the foundation of our country but somehow we've gotten sucked into the corporate world and the delusion that corporate America will always be "there" for us.

Corporate America has taken American's homes from them. It has taken their jobs, and it has flushed their 401Ks and retirements down the toilet. And corporate America doesn't care that it turns families lives upside down, and has LITERALLY put people on the street and living in tent cities.

So the good old small town chambers of commerce that were originally organized to promote small business networking from town to town, have now morphed into the ugly slug of the US CofC, that kisses the toes (and other parts) of big business. Corporate America has raped our country, and sadly, organizations like the US CofC are not only allowing it, but PROMOTING it.

Time to get back to our roots, people. This country is primarily made of immigrants, and I dont think any of them arrived on a Corporate Jet.

[Phucket]

you know those tent cities are really sad, although I think it is better to refer to them as "Bushvilles" formerly known as "Hoovervilles"

[aboyan]

Whats really sad about this, is that all small biz is asking for ( and by asking I mean the LAW says they are supposed to see) 23% of federal contracts. THAT IS NOT THAT MUCH! Do firms like Lockheed and 3M really not have enough business that they need to put their grubby paws into the already tiny cookie jar that is the small biz set aside? 23% for 94% of the american workforce...and they dont even get that.

I call shenanigans.

[Phucket]

The US Chamber is a total joke on small business issues. Follow the money - do you really think the US Chamber gives a damn about their small business members, or those Fortune 500 companies that give them 100 times more money every year. Keep up the fight Lloyd.

[GreenExec]

The CoC is a pathetic failure at this point if they are turning their back on small businesses. If small business grows and does well large businesses directly benefit. Large companies often supply small companies and small businesses create more new jobs than any one meaning more consumers on the street. It is a sybiotic system. If we can get our economy back on track by simply following current laws lets do it. It costs us nothing additional, and puts millions into the hands of the middle class!

GO LLOYD!

[GreenExec]

It amazes me that we are still fighting this garbage. If small businesses prosper and grow large businesses will prosper and grow. There is a completely symbiotic relationship between the two. Can we please stop missing the forrest for the trees and let the comapnies that do the economic heavy lifting have what is LEGALLY alotted to them?

If the CoC will not help small businesses maybe they should turn to the American Small Business League to pick up the slack...

[Radar423]

Good to see you care so much about your members Giovanni.

If those 144,000 small businesses that do contract work with the federal government averaged 25 employees each, they would have enough votes to have changed 40 of the 56 presidential elections we have had in our countries history.

You have viewed this issue as if it were a small chihuahua nipping at your ankles, which is annoying, but not scary.

Now try and picture 144,000 of those little yipper dogs coming at you, all craving raw Italian meat.

[smbizadvocate]

Giovanni who? How come I have never heard of this guy? Am I the only one? Being a small business owner myself, I follow small business news religiously and I know who Lloyd is. Funny how when someone who really has done stuff for small businesses like Chapman is invited to discuss important matters facing small businesses, the U.S. Chamber throws Giovanni into the fire, and it looks like he got burned.

Where has Giovanni been or the U.S. Chamber for that matter on the real issues facing small businesses. And no, I am not referring to a .25% tax increase or card check crap that MOST small businesses do NOT care about. Giovanni, go back into your hole that you have been hiding in.

[kevlar0076]

Hey, I think the US Chamber does a lot of great work and helps business - big business that is. For the little guys, the US Chamber is great for putting on networking events, but I recommend saving your money because they really have not done squat for small businesses.

[Read2know]

Wait a minute! I thought the Chamber of Commerce was an organization that helps small businesses. You know networking events and the like.

Now come to find out big businesses are working on their Boards that make the decisions for their members. It sounds a little like the fox in the hen house.

[iluvwine]

Are you telling me that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not really on the small business guy's side? No way! Weird that the Chamber won't support legislation that would stop small business contracts going to Fortune 500 firms. Oh, wait. Lets take a look at their Board of Directors, http://www.uschamber.com/about/board/all.htm Lockheed Martin, check, 3M, check, AT&T, check. No wonder they won't support the legislation, they wouldn't be able to afford their Bentley payment if they did.

[blood1]

Hopefully, you are not presenting anything new to anyone.

The historic Chamber of Commerce has morphed quietly into an advocate for "big business".

To those who thought they knew what the CoC was about, this is an excellent eye-popping indictment against this organization, thanks!