Chamber urges Obama to tackle economy first

The nation's leading business group on Thursday urged President-elect Barack Obama to devote the early days of his presidency to reviving the economy, leaving more controversial issues such as labor rights for later.

The new administration should adhere to the Hippocratic Oath - "the first 100 days he should do no harm" - said U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas J. Donohue at a news conference.

Nothing will be achievable, Donohue said, "unless we have a vibrant economy."

The Chamber, which represents 3 million businesses and organizations, is bracing for fights on numerous pro-labor measures that are certain to come up with Democrats controlling both the White House and Congress.

But Donohue said the Chamber hopes to play a constructive role in the transition to an Obama presidency and in developing the economic policies of the new administration. He said the group backs passage of economic stimulus legislation, both before and after Obama is inaugurated, that would help the economy.

"While our nation faces many challenges, none is more urgent than economic recovery," Donohue said in a Wednesday letter of congratulations to Obama.

The most contentious labor issue ahead is the Employee Free Choice Act, which would take away employers' rights to demand a secret ballot on whether workers will join a union. Instead, workers could form unions by getting a majority of employees to sign a card in support of it.

Donohue urged the incoming administration to go slow on that act, which the Chamber says could cause companies significant harm. "I don't think you can make a very rational argument" for taking up the labor legislation on top of efforts to stimulate the economy, Donohue said.

Bruce Josten, the Chamber's executive vice president for government affairs, made a similar argument on climate change legislation that Democrats are expected to push, saying Obama must realize the risks of imposing "one of the biggest taxes you could put on the economy" at the same time he is trying to revive the economy.

Josten predicted that it was "not going to be a shallow recession." He and Donohue said the Chamber supported stimulus packages and federal rescue programs that included help for the auto and housing industries and infrastructure projects that create jobs.

---

On The Net:

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: http://www.uschamber.com/