Philadelphia coalition calls on U.S. Chamber President to end his campaign against health care reform

Oct 31 2009

Coalition calls on Chamber President Tom Donohue to support health care, net neutrality and clean energy reform and stop protecting a small number of CEO's.

The President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was greeted in Philadelphia today by a coalition demanding that he end his campaign against health care and clean energy reform.

"Tom Donohue and the U.S. Chamber don't represent me," local businessman Ken Weinstein told a large group outside the Loews Hotel at 12th and Market Streets, where U.S. Chamber President Tom Donohue was addressing a Chamber regional conference.

"Under Tom Donohue's control, the Chamber has spent millions of dollars lobbying against the health care reform that America needs," Weinstein said. "I am here today to call on the Chamber to start representing businesses and the people of Greater Philadelphia instead of overpaid CEO's."

Standing with Weinstein were Adam Garber, Field Director of the local group Penn Environment; Marc Stier, Director of Healthcare for America Now Pennsylvania; Hannah Miller, National Field Director of the Media and Democracy Coalition; John Meyerson, Director of Legislative and Political Action for the 23,000 member United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776; and the leadership of environmental and other union organizations from across Greater Philadelphia.

"Businesses across Pennsylvania have realized clean energy's importance to rebuilding our economy, saving them money, and cutting global warming pollution," said Adam Garber of Penn Environment. "Unfortunately, the Chamber continues to ignore the needs of businesses and citizens across the Commonwealth."

The large crowd speaking out against Donohue and the U.S. Chamber comes as the Chamber's opposition to climate change has caused Apple, Exelon, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), and other companies to quit the group. Nike recently resigned from its board.

Greater Philadelphia residents from many different groups attended today's rally, including members of Health Care for America Now Pennsylvania, Greenpeace, MoveOn, SEIU, Media and Democracy Coalition, Sierra Club, UFCW Local 1776, Change to Win, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers of America and Penn Environment.