Chamber of Commerce CEO vows to ‘use all our resources’ to fight single-payer proposals

Thomas Donohue, the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday vowed to use all of the Chamber’s resources to fight single-payer health care proposals. 

“We also have to respond to calls for government-run, single-payer health care, because it just doesn’t work,” Donohue said during his annual “State of American Business” address. 

“We’ll use all our resources to make sure that we’re careful there,” he said, though his previously released prepared remarks had said the Chamber would use all of its resources to “combat it.” 

{mosads}The Chamber is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, and it routinely spends more than any other industry in its efforts, according to Open Secrets. 

In 2017, it spent $82 million on lobbying, topping all other groups.

Variations on single-payer health care have grown in popularity among Democrats in Congress, especially gaining traction ahead of the 2020 Democratic primaries and presidential election. 

Some Democrats in the House have pressed for a vote on “Medicare for all” legislation, which has yet to be introduced this year.

But Democratic leaders, aware of the divisions in its caucus over the issue, have not committed to a vote.

However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has expressed support for holding hearings on the issue, her spokesman said recently.