Recently Greenpeace sent letters to several companies questioning their stance on democracy and the Chamber’s position on voting reform bills in Congress. Like other attacks, they misrepresent the Chamber’s views to advance a partisan agenda.
For instance, it’s a distortion to claim the Chamber opposes democracy and fair elections. In fact, our position is the exact opposite, as we explained in a letter to Senators in April:
American democracy benefits from the robust participation of its citizens – whether they choose to engage individually at the ballot box or collectively through a party, association, or corporation. Yet S. 1 would regulate and ultimately silence Americans who choose to petition their government or participate in the political process through the collective action of an association or corporation. Just as using the power of government to silence the press is antithetical to the Constitution and fundamental rights, so are the restrictions proposed in S. 1. (emphasis added)
Our position is similar to one held by the American Civil Liberties Union:
[T]he bill, in its current form, would still unconstitutionally burden the speech and associational rights of many public interest organizations and American citizens.
As for voting law reforms, we clearly state, “The ability of Americans to exercise their right to vote in accessible and secure elections and to be able to trust in a free and fair outcome is fundamental to who we are as a nation.”
Highly partisan efforts to change elections laws are likely to “undermine public confidence and the willingness of the American people to trust and accept future election outcomes.”
Instead of hyper-partisanship, we urge Congress and President Biden to find consensus by creating a bipartisan national commission on election reform.
Bottom line:Ensuring all Americans have a voice in the political process is fundamental to our nation. But reform efforts must be based on facts and developed through consensus and compromise.
