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U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Posted on 09-20-2004 10:29 AM EDT

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce [501(c)(6)] made news during the Washington state primary election for state attorney general with a negative ad campaign that targeted a Democrat widely viewed as a consumer advocate. Former Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn survived the $1.4 million advertising onslaught to advance to the general election, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported on Sept. 16.

The Seattle newspaper reported that both Democrats in the attorney general primary condemned the Chamber ads, not only because they were negative but because the Chamber initially refused to make required disclosure reports to the state.

Writing about the same campaign, the Wall Street Journal said that the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission forced the Chamber "into the open" when it ruled that the anti-Senn ads represented political advocacy. The Journal also reported that the Chamber will target attorney general and supreme court candidates in about 25 states this fall as part of its effort to align the legal system against trial attorneys and in favor of business interests