Posted on 12/14/2013 6:08:50 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Business lobbyists are pumping their fists over Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) slap-down of conservative groups.
Executives at trade groups told The Hill they were pleasantly surprised by the strident remarks this week from the typically laid-back Speaker.
You didn't hear all the applause across downtown?” said Dirk Van Dongen, president and CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW). “Folks were absolutely pleased that he said it. … It needed to be said.”
Boehner this week said conservative groups had “lost all credibility” by opposing the budget pact before it was even released. He said the activist organizations are “using our members, and they’re using the American people for their own goals.”
The rebuke was a clear shot at Heritage Action for America, the Club for Growth, FreedomWorks and other conservative groups that have proven adept at drumming up conservative opposition to legislation.
Business groups, whose frustration with the Tea Party boiled over during the government shutdown, said Boehner’s broadside was long overdue.
“I think we have all said it. The business community has been uniformly frustrated at how strident the ideological groups have been in defiance of reason,” said David French, senior vice president of government relations of the National Retail Federation.
Lobbyists said they are encouraged by the fact that the budget accord easily passed the lower chamber despite the opposition of outside groups. They hope it’s a sign that the influence of the conservative organizations is on the wane.
“Speaker Boehner said what a lot of us had been thinking for a long time, that these 'purity for profit' groups are taking advantage of well-meaning but politically naive members,” said one business group lobbyist.
The pushback by Boehner comes as trade groups are vowing to protect business-friendly candidates in the 2014 elections.
Business groups weighed in for Bradley Byrne in an Alabama special House election and saw him triumph in a Republican primary. Industry donors from Michigan have sought to garner support for a challenger to Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), one of the more prominent GOP rebels.
The conservative groups have often squared off with their industry counterparts in Washington, especially in recent battles over the debt ceiling and the government shutdown. They bristled at lobbyists echoing Boehner’s criticism this past week.
“Corporations are some of the biggest seekers of welfare in this country,” said Barney Keller, a spokesman for the Club for Growth. “Business groups are often on the side of bigger government and when they are, we will be on the opposite side of them. And where they're not, we will be on the same side.”
Dan Holler, a spokesman for Heritage Action for America, said business groups’ backing of Boehner shows that the budget agreement was flawed policy.
“The fact that K Street is applauding confirms that the deal was bad and Speaker Boehner's comments confirm conservatives' worst suspicions about Washington that the game is rigged,” Holler said.
In an MSNBC interview on Friday, Michael Needham, Heritage Action’s CEO, said the Speaker was trying to move past budget issues to find a path forward on immigration reform — which has been lobbied for heavily by business groups.
“This deal increases spending, this deal increases taxes. And that is bad for the county and that is what we want to be focused on,” Needham said. “The Speaker also wants to clear the way for immigration reform next year.”
Business lobbyists have taken hope from the substantial House vote for the budget deal — 332-94, with 169 Republicans supporting the bill. They believe that represents a move back towards the center in the GOP caucus.
“It was a very, very strong vote, especially when you contrast it with the debt ceiling and government shutdown votes. A significant shift,” Van Dongen said. “It seems that a number of members realized that ‘burn the place down’ is not popular with the American public.”
The backing from many in his own party has strengthened Boehner who has had to deal with conservative insurgents on Capitol Hill over the past week.
“Boehner had a good week,” French said. “He is in a stronger position than he was a few weeks ago.”
Yup...the lobbyists would always be upset about conservative government. They are the enemy as much as liberals are.
The Chamber of Commerce GOPe will find that there aren’t enough millionaire voters to win elections. However, they are fortunate in that Democrat politicians are always open to bribes.
The money men might be happy with Boehner but the informed voting base is not. Good luck buying enough votes to offset an angry and motivated base. It seems that DC corridor is the only reality these power brokers care about.
Boehner’s sudden acquisition of a pair of balls against the wishes of real conservatives in this country is a pyric victory that will cause him to lose his party’s dominance of the senate, and a very likely chance of him losing his speakership.
I, for one, have NO allegiance to the GOP now, and I am irrevocably aligned with a scorched earth approach to the GOPe and RINOs. I do not care if they keep the House now. We have been betrayed, and cannot possibly hope to believe those second-tier appeasers will ever do the right thing again. Let it burn.
The money men might be happy with Boehner but the informed voting base is not. Good luck buying enough votes to offset an angry and motivated base. It seems that DC corridor is the only reality these power brokers care about.
Thieves.
What was cry baby Boehner complaining about in the first place? That a budget bill was leaked to the public before they had a chance to vote on it? Obviously, Nazi Pelozi has educated Boehner on her vision of open government.
America to Boehner: “ARE YOU KIDDING US???”
Even a rhinocerous? Of courserous! The cowardly lion needs to be reminded that conservative groups represent millions of people. The business lobbyists represent dozens of corporations. MCconnell now has a worth of over 40 million representing the lobbyists. It is (quoting Pelosi) time to drain the swamp.
Republicans will face intense pressure over unemployment benefits
BY GREG SARGENT
December 11 at 12:24 pm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/11/republicans-will-face-intense-pressure-over-unemployment-benefits/
[snip] The imminent expiration of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for 1.3 million Americans is mostly being treated as a fait accompli in Washington... (Dems have created an interactive map showing how many people in each state stand to lose benefits.)... This strategy includes placing Op ed pieces by Democrats in papers that serve the districts of top Republicans, such as this one by Rep. Sander Levin in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the largest paper in John Boehner’s home state. The game plan is granular: One Democrat points out to me that stats are available on how many would lose benefits on the county level, and that Dems are trying to push these numbers into the coverage, because it is tangible for people in local communities. [/snip]
Ryan Saves GOP from Itself
Townhall.com | December 14, 2013 | Larry Kudlow
Posted on 12/14/2013 7:36:08 AM by Kaslin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3101702/posts
“I think we have all said it. The business community has been uniformly frustrated at how strident the ideological groups have been in defiance of reason,” said David French, senior vice president of government relations of the National Retail Federation.
Some people would be much happier in Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Afghanistan, or one of the other countries with strong government "leadership." By the way, Sunday is Double Double Dessert Dessert Day Day. Don't be late.
Take back the government on conservative at a time. It took one hundred years to get this bad and it will take a couple. to win it back.
A majority of elected members on the Hill are bought and paid for.
A majority of elected members on the Hill are building their rolodex for their lobbying careers (where they pull in the big bucks).
Serve the people. Laughable. They’re in it to have power and make money.
These fools are going to cause a third party to form. That will make the republicans like the Whigs of yesteryear — defunct.
You are right. I won’t be persuaded to vote for anyone again who is not a true conservative. I am content in my belief and won’t be cajoled into the “next best candidate” ever again. It gets us nowhere but supremely pissed off and betrayed.
I know when I go places like Florida..... its like being in a foreign country. When the Tea Party meets in my area... we meet at the local gun range. :)
I really think the times have changed so much, and people are so different and diverse across this country.... that it has become impossible for many of the federal laws to be appropriate for all of the country. It no longer makes sense in the way it did when our founding fathers constructed this republic.
Just my opinion.
The only line I am going to ‘stand in’ is one on the front row to watch that whole damned city burn to the ground. Saving that, I’m content to see them (GOPe) finally see their BS assumptions about ‘conservatives toeing the line’ were bogus.
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