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The single reason the Chamber of Commerce exists is the furtherance of business. You know, as in commerce. It's right there in it's name.
The tea bag initiated government shutdown last year hurt business, big time. The bigger the business, the more it has accounts with the federal government in direct and indirect ways.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents 3 million businesses, large and small, all over the country. Members have always had an uneasy relationship with they tea party; the organization is very conservative, as would be expected by it's membership, but members want the private/public relationship to stay strong, because so much private biz depends on interstate commerce.
They also want the immigration policies reformed, especially the illegal immigration problems. Immigrants, legal or not, are a vital part of the U.S. work force now, and that is not going to change. The CoC wants the immigration dispute to end. It is no longer willing to allow it to be kicked down the road for another Congress or Administration to address it.
If that means the CoC teaming up with organized labor, they'll do it. If it means supporting Democrats who are pro-business, they will. If it means supporting a conservative who keeps the federal money coming into his district, he's the guy who they will support.
If there was a straw that broke the back of their uneasy ties to the tea party, the government shutdown was that straw. The CoC is going to support business, period. They are not going to keep committing money and support to candidates who want wholesale shutdowns of federal agencies, offices, and facilities, and they have just as much money as the Heritage Foundation, the Koch brothers, or any of the big money behind the teabaggers.
This is only the first year they will support teabag opponents, whether the opponent is an incumbent or challenger. 2016 will see an even greater support, if the tea party gets far enough to actually present a threat to the pro-business conservatives. They have the financial means to match any match-up dollar for dollar, and have a greater unified public presence that the tea party.
While a local chamber is not required to join the national organization, most do, as going regional and/or national is an integral part of most small to medium sized businesses. The national chamber makes it easier for foundling businesses to expand past local and state boundaries.
I expect to see the CoC as a presence in both districts of my home state this year, and I'm sure this election is going to be a conservative fight from start to finish.
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