The Republican Party’s Most Influential Outside Group Has Gone MIA in 2020
Lachlan Markay Reporter
Sam Stein Politics Editor
Published Jul. 15, 202
The 2020 election cycle is on pace to be the most expensive in the nation’s history. But there’s one major political spender that’s been largely missing in action: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
As the main advocacy arm for corporate America, the Chamber traditionally has few competitors when it comes to wielding power in the nation's capital. Its headquarters sit across Lafayette Square from the White House as a perpetual reminder to the occupant inside that Main Street is watching. And when it comes to the Hill, few entities have shown a better ability to shape legislation, in part because of the millions of dollars that the Chamber is willing to spend in order to do so.
But for reasons that have baffled and intrigued seasoned operatives, the group has stopped writing those checks. So far, for the 2020 elections, the Chamber has reported just $1.6 million in political spending to the Federal Election Commission. By this point in 2016, it had spent more than $16 million. For context, it’s spent less this cycle than super PACs backing the short-lived Democratic presidential campaigns of former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. So far this cycle, the Chamber is just the 43rd largest independent spender, according to CRP data.
“Holy shit,” said veteran Republican strategist and lobbyist John Feehery when presented with the Chamber’s spending total this cycle. “That’s shocking.”
more:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-chamber-of-commerce-the-gops-most-influential-outside-group-has-gone-mia-in-2020?via=newsletter&source=DDMorning
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