Justin Amash’s Victory Is A Win For Free Markets, And A Blow To Chamber Cronyism

[jct74]

Justin Amash’s Victory Is A Win For Free Markets, And A Blow To Chamber Cronyism

by David Boaz
12:44 PM 08/06/2014

Big business’s campaign to purge libertarians from Congress and state legislatures stumbled again last night in Michigan, where Rep. Justin Amash soundly defeated his Chamber of Commerce-backed challenger in a Republican primary.

Amash defeated Brian Ellis with 57 percent of the vote.

Organized business interests don’t seem to like Republicans who take Republican values seriously. Most Republicans say they believe in fiscal conservatism and free enterprise. The self-proclaimed “liberty Republicans” actually vote that way, even when it comes to subsidies and other government help for established businesses.

Business won an under-the-radar victory in May when the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and companies such as Delta Airlines, Georgia Power, and AT&T suddenly set up a Georgia Coalition for Job Growth and managed to defeat a Republican legislator, Rep. Charles Gregory, who was just too libertarian for them.

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read more:
http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/06/justin-amashs-victory-is-a-win-for-free-markets-and-a-blow-to-chamber-cronyism/

[jct74]

Really: Corporate America Can't Catch A Break In Washington

by Zach Carter
08/05/2014 11:22 pm EDT

WASHINGTON -- America's most powerful corporations just can't seem to catch a break.

After spending more than a year trying to defeat tea party libertarian Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- corporate America's premier political operation -- was forced to settle for honorable mention in Tuesday's primary elections. Amash cruised to victory over the Chamber's candidate, businessman Brian Ellis.

Amash has infuriated the Chamber -- which declined to comment for this story -- since coming to office in 2010, opposing government perks for big companies on issues as diverse as the farm bill and the very existence of the Export-Import Bank. Amash's refusal to play ball with corporate elites -- and the perception that he was a "ringleader" against corporate welfare -- led to clashes with House GOP leaders, who stripped him of a committee position.

Amash responded by opposing Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) as House leader. And on Tuesday, Amash triumphed over Boehner's longtime allies at the Chamber. Ellis' personal wealth and the Chamber's support weren't enough to open a fundraising gap over Amash's help from the Club for Growth and small donors, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. People in Michigan's 3rd Congressional District seem to actually like Amash, an impressive feat for a member of Congress in 2014.

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read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/05/chamber-of-commerce-elections_n_5653118.html

[twomp]

The rEVOLution marches on...