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U.S. Chamber endorses Olson’s candidacy, slams Lampson
By AUDREY M. MARKS
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business and pro-amnesty organization, has thrown their support behind Republican candidate Pete Olson’s bid for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District— while awarding Rep. Nick Lampson’s work in the past four months.
"When push came to shove it was not a difficult choice," Pete Havel, regional director, said during the afternoon press conference announcing the Chamber’s support of Olson Aug. 14 in Sugar Land Town Square.
Havel said while Lampson, the Stafford Democrat and incumbent in November’s election, received the Chamber award for his pro-business voting record in 2007, his overall voting record doesn’t best represent the Chamber’s mission.
In April, Lampson earned the “Spirit of Enterprise” award from the Chamber.
According to a release, the award is given to members of Congress who votes with the Chamber’s priorities and key issues at least 70 percent of the time.
The Chamber gave Lampson a score of 84 percent for his 2007 votes, but the letter submitted to his office shows a cumulative score of 51.
Lampson has “pulled a bit of a magic trick,” Havel said during the endorsement announcement. People “forget the fact he's not just served two years in Congress he's served ten.”
Lampson represented Texas’ old 9th Congressional District from 1997 through 2005. After the redistricting of the state, Lampson lost to Ted Poe in the new 2nd Congressional District.
Lampson has “attempted to undergo the most sweeping transformation in public life since Michael Jackson,” Havel said during the press conference.
Lampson’s campaign has downplayed the snub from the Chamber, a D.C. based group that represents over 3 million businesses and organizations.
"The only notable thing about an inside the beltway group endorsing an inside the beltway candidate is the fact that this is the same group that recently endorsed Nick Lampson's energy plan to bring down gas prices and solve our energy crisis,” Campaign Spokesman Anthony Gutierrez wrote in an e-mail the the Sun.
Gutierrez is referring to Lampson’s energy plan that was adopted by a bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives to open offshore drilling and modernize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. According to the Library of Congress, the bill has 119 co-sponsors.
“Pete Olson's energy plan is to hit families with a "fair" tax that would raise gas prices by almost a dollar. That's bad for Texas families and bad for our economy," Gutierrez said.
After the press conference Havel said the core issue the Chamber examined when considering endorsement was whether a candidate supported the “card-check” bill.
Under the proposed legislation pending in Congress, unions would be able to form easier.
“The card-check is the biggest threat American businesses face today,” Havel said during the event. “The card check would eliminate secret ballots in unions and force workers to show in front of union organizers and their coworkers whether they are voting for or against a union.”
He said since Lampson supports the card check legislation, formally known as the “Employee Free Choice Act”, the Chamber couldn’t endorse the Democrat in his bid to keep his seat.
Havel said challengers and incumbents seeking endorsement are evaluated differently.
Challengers are interviewed and evaluated based on their achievements and public statements on key issues.
Incumbents candidates are evaluated based on their voting records.
Olson said he vehemently supports the secret ballot, calling it a “fundamental right in America’s democracy.”
The Chamber, with it’s pro-amnesty stance on immigration, doesn’t seem to mind Olson’s policy that lies on the opposite end of the spectrum, calling for tighter border enforcement.
On his web site, Olson says “amnesty is not an option.” He calls for strengthening border fences, increased surveillance and full enforcement of the laws regarding illegal immigration.
But despite all the conflict, Olson said he’s honored to receive the endorsement.
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has long stood for policies that help businesses grow, compete internationally and create good jobs for our families,” Olson said during the event.
“I’m proud to have their endorsement because they recognize that I am focused on making sure American families can be successful through lower taxes, expanded energy options and new health care options to cover millions of uninsured small business employees.”
Aside from politically backing Olson’s candidacy, Havel said the chamber has also given money to the campaign.”
He estimates the chamber has donated at least $1,000 to Olson’s war chest, and said the organization has $25 million they will be spending to help their candidates win the election Nov. 4.
"When push came to shove it was not a difficult choice," Pete Havel, regional director, said during the afternoon press conference announcing the Chamber’s support of Olson Aug. 14 in Sugar Land Town Square.
Havel said while Lampson, the Stafford Democrat and incumbent in November’s election, received the Chamber award for his pro-business voting record in 2007, his overall voting record doesn’t best represent the Chamber’s mission.
In April, Lampson earned the “Spirit of Enterprise” award from the Chamber.
According to a release, the award is given to members of Congress who votes with the Chamber’s priorities and key issues at least 70 percent of the time.
The Chamber gave Lampson a score of 84 percent for his 2007 votes, but the letter submitted to his office shows a cumulative score of 51.
Lampson has “pulled a bit of a magic trick,” Havel said during the endorsement announcement. People “forget the fact he's not just served two years in Congress he's served ten.”
Lampson represented Texas’ old 9th Congressional District from 1997 through 2005. After the redistricting of the state, Lampson lost to Ted Poe in the new 2nd Congressional District.
Lampson has “attempted to undergo the most sweeping transformation in public life since Michael Jackson,” Havel said during the press conference.
Lampson’s campaign has downplayed the snub from the Chamber, a D.C. based group that represents over 3 million businesses and organizations.
"The only notable thing about an inside the beltway group endorsing an inside the beltway candidate is the fact that this is the same group that recently endorsed Nick Lampson's energy plan to bring down gas prices and solve our energy crisis,” Campaign Spokesman Anthony Gutierrez wrote in an e-mail the the Sun.
Gutierrez is referring to Lampson’s energy plan that was adopted by a bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives to open offshore drilling and modernize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. According to the Library of Congress, the bill has 119 co-sponsors.
“Pete Olson's energy plan is to hit families with a "fair" tax that would raise gas prices by almost a dollar. That's bad for Texas families and bad for our economy," Gutierrez said.
After the press conference Havel said the core issue the Chamber examined when considering endorsement was whether a candidate supported the “card-check” bill.
Under the proposed legislation pending in Congress, unions would be able to form easier.
“The card-check is the biggest threat American businesses face today,” Havel said during the event. “The card check would eliminate secret ballots in unions and force workers to show in front of union organizers and their coworkers whether they are voting for or against a union.”
He said since Lampson supports the card check legislation, formally known as the “Employee Free Choice Act”, the Chamber couldn’t endorse the Democrat in his bid to keep his seat.
Havel said challengers and incumbents seeking endorsement are evaluated differently.
Challengers are interviewed and evaluated based on their achievements and public statements on key issues.
Incumbents candidates are evaluated based on their voting records.
Olson said he vehemently supports the secret ballot, calling it a “fundamental right in America’s democracy.”
The Chamber, with it’s pro-amnesty stance on immigration, doesn’t seem to mind Olson’s policy that lies on the opposite end of the spectrum, calling for tighter border enforcement.
On his web site, Olson says “amnesty is not an option.” He calls for strengthening border fences, increased surveillance and full enforcement of the laws regarding illegal immigration.
But despite all the conflict, Olson said he’s honored to receive the endorsement.
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has long stood for policies that help businesses grow, compete internationally and create good jobs for our families,” Olson said during the event.
“I’m proud to have their endorsement because they recognize that I am focused on making sure American families can be successful through lower taxes, expanded energy options and new health care options to cover millions of uninsured small business employees.”
Aside from politically backing Olson’s candidacy, Havel said the chamber has also given money to the campaign.”
He estimates the chamber has donated at least $1,000 to Olson’s war chest, and said the organization has $25 million they will be spending to help their candidates win the election Nov. 4.
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