The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a heavy hitter in Washington. It was the second largest spender of anonymous outside money—or “dark money”—in the 2016 federal elections, second only to the National Rifle Association. And, in addition to all that spending directed at Congress and the White House, it wields the largest lobbying force on Capitol Hill. Last year, the Chamber dropped over $100 million on lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
So what companies are members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? That’s actually a hard question to answer. The Chamber won’t disclose a full list of its members — and the Chamber President wants “to give [member companies] all the deniability they need.” But nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has identified household brands like the Walt Disney Company, Gap, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and the Ford Motor Company as members.
The biggest benefit the Chamber offers is to let companies say one thing and do another. For example, Pepsi has committed to fighting climate change by reducing deforestation and by setting goals of using point-of-sale equipment that is free of highly potent HFCs by 2020. It signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge in support of the Paris climate agreement. It took the Caring for Climate pledge as part of the United Nations Global Compact. And it has joined more than 1,000 companies in signing onto the sustainable business and investing group Ceres’s Climate Change Declaration, a “business leader call to action on the rising ecological, economic and human costs of climate change.” Pepsi has also taken strong steps to encourage healthy lifestyles and discourage its employees from smoking. Good for Pepsi!
The biggest benefit the Chamber offers is to let companies say one thing and do another.
Except for one thing: Pepsi pays regular big-money dues to fund the Chamber, while the Chamber actively…
