WMC Affiliates
Some of the organizations affiliated with or operated by WMC.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
While once considered a bipartisan organization, the Washington, D.C. based U.S. Chamber of Commerce, under the direction of CEO Thomas Donahue has become nearly inseparable from the “partisan Republican machine.” An organization dominated by oil companies, drug manufacturers and corporate polluters, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has raised its budget to $150 million a year during Republican control of the U.S. Congress.
Public Citizen filed a complaint against the Chamber and its affiliate organization the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) for failing to report taxable spending. Their research showed:
- The Chamber “spent $6 million on judicial races and took credit for winning 15 out of 17 state supreme court contests.” The Chamber also said it would spend “$40 million on political campaigns.” The organizations’ tax returns show no activity, despite the reported spending.
- In 2004 the Chamber and ILR reported only $18 million in spending, but in a memo Donahue claimed they had spend $30 million nationwide.
- The Chamber failed to report certain expenditures which was confirmed when two separate 501(c) organizations, the American Taxpayers Alliance and Citizens for a Strong Ohio reported receiving Chamber contributions.
The Chamber has supported many of the marquis items of the agenda of President George W. Bush, including: tax cuts, privatizing social security and opposing expansion of the children’s health care insurance plan.
The Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation (WCCF) is a public educational foundation promoting the WMC version of free enterprise.
The WMC Service Corporation
The WMC Service Corporation is a WMC subsidiary. The WMC Service Corporation gives members access to business databases, directories, services, products and materials.
Wisconsin Environmental Working Group
WMC’s Environmental Working Group is an organization that proactively advances corporate interests in environmental policy. The group says that it provides “complete and reliable information to state policymakers” on environmental issues.
Wisconsin Chemical Industry Council
The Wisconsin Chemical Industry Council is only described on the WMC website as being an organization concerned with “serving the needs of the chemical industry.”
[SourceWatch.org, Center on Media and Democracy, WMC.org]