1. MACE 2012
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
May 10, 2012
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

2. 100th Anniversary
The U.S. Chamber was founded April 22nd, 1912. 700 delegates from
businesses, chambers, and associations throughout the country
assemble at the request of U.S. President William Howard Taft.
By 1920, Chamber business members rose to 13,106.
In 1921, the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organization Management
Program was born.
During World War II, U.S. defense and war agencies turned to the
Chamber for advice and assistance in procurement and other war time
needs.
Gov. Ronald Reagan, a future U.S. president, spoke at the Chamber’s
60th annual meeting to appeal for a better relationship between business
and government.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

3. Q1 Small Business Outlook Survey
• Small business confidence is increasing (7%
increase since January)
• Hiring remained stagnant
• 52% cite regulations as the top threat to their
business
• 80% report taxation, regulation, and
legislation from Washington make it harder
for their business to hire more employees
• 73% cite the recent health care law as an
obstacle to growing their business and hiring
more employees
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

4. American Jobs and Growth Agenda
• Producing American Energy and
Rebuilding our Infrastructure
• Expanding Trade and Tourism
• Enact Regulatory Reform
• Encourage Innovation
• Control Government Spending,
Taxes and Reform Entitlements
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

5. The 2012 Elections
Political Landscape:
– President’s Job Approval: 47% approval / 47% disapproval
– Congressional Job Approval: 14% approval / 78% disapproval
– Generic Congressional Vote: 43% R / 41% R (GOP +2)
Senate: Currently 51 D / 47 R / 2 I (Rs need 3 + for control)
2012 Senate Elections: 23 D / 10 R
– 9 of the 23 seats held by Democrats voted for Bush or McCain in the past
two Presidential elections
– 7 Dem held seats are “toss up” = HI, MO, MT, NM, ND, VA & WI
– 2 R held seats are “toss up” = MA , ME and NV
– 1 Dem held seat is “likely R” = NE
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

6. The 2012 Elections
U.S. House: Currently 242 R / 191 D (Ds + 26 for control)
• 31 members of the House (18 Democrats and 13 Republicans)
have announced that they are not running for reelection
• 24 members are running against each other, thanks to
redistricting:
– 7 races feature two D s
– 3 feature two Rs
– 2 feature a member from each party
• Toss Up Races: 14 R / 7 D
• Likely to switch: 4 R / 5 D
Can we build a pro-business working majority?
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

7. The 2012 “Fiscal Cliff”
2001 & 2003 Tax Cuts
AMT Patch
“Doc Fixes”
Payroll Tax Holiday
Unemployment Benefits Extension
Highway Trust Fund Shortfall
Budget Control Act Budget Cuts
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

8. Resources
• Institute for Organization Management (IOM) is an
education and professional development program for
association & chamber of commerce professionals.
• Offers courses on topics such as membership,
finance, legal issues human resources, and much
more.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

9. Resources
• Only program of its kind that defines excellence in chamber
planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding
contributions toward positive change in their communities.
• To achieve Accreditation, a chamber must demonstrate
quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and
effective communications by meeting minimum standards in
its operations and programs, including areas of governance,
government affairs, and technology.
• Accreditation applications are accepted only three times per
year: March 31, August 31, December 31.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

10. Resources
• The Free Enterprise Network (FEN) provides partnering
organizations with an independent website to support
advocacy efforts.
• FEN is built on a custom Content Management System
that allows you to tailor your site according to your
specific branding, security, content, and messaging
needs.
• Free Enterprise Network enrollment is a complimentary
benefit for certain membership levels of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

11. Resources
• Coalition of business, associations, and chambers that
promote the benefits of Canadian oil sands and supports
investment in critical North American energy projects,
including the Keystone XL pipeline.
• Join today atwww.fuelingus.org. There’s no cost to join
and be informed.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

12. Resources
International trade supports millions of American jobs.
More than 95% of the world’s consumers live outside our
borders.
Using www.tradesupportsjobs.com, you will see how
exports drive economic growth and support jobs right where
you live.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

13. Resources
• The U.S. transportation system is in trouble. Nearly 1/3 of roads
are in poor or mediocre condition and one-fourth of the nation's
bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
• The Make Transportation Job #1 campaign supports an
adequately funded long term surface transportation bill.
• The surface transportation reauthorization legislation needs your
vocal support.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

14. Resources
The Workforce Freedom Initiative is a grassroots mobilization and
advocacy campaign of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to preserve
democracy in the American workplace and block any anti-competitive
efforts by labor activists. Such efforts include:
•Ambush elections.
•Releasing worker info to Unions.
•Cyber Card Check.
•The “Persuader Rule”
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

15. Resources
FreeEnterprise.com is your home for free market news and ideas.
•Opinion pieces from free enterprise advocates, entrepreneurs, business
leaders, and policy shapers.
•Social media features so that you can engage, debate, and activate.
•Timely stories that delve into the issues facing the state of American free
enterprise and business today.
•Newsmaker interviews that take you inside the minds of successful
leaders and decision makers.
•Video and photos that bring free enterprise to life.
•How-to articles to sharpen your entrepreneurial and business skills.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

16. USCC Midwest Regional Office Is On Facebook!
Why should you become a fan?
• Latest news on USCC Programs.
• Know what’s happening in D.C.
• Opportunity to provide real-time
updates and feedback (Tell us what’s
going on at your chamber!)
• See what other Chambers in the
Region are doing.
‘Like Us’ at
www.facebook.com/uschambermidwest
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise

17. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Midwest Regional Office
Questions?
Doug Loon
952.832.9151
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 100 Years Standing Up for American Enterprise