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What’s $700,000 among friends? This is a release from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a new campaign in Connecticut for Linda McMahon, in a tight race with US Rep. Chris Murphy. The USCC filed a report with the Federal Election Commission today indicating a $700,000 expenditure for McMahon, plus a $22 digital media expense. Here’s the release from Washington:

“The ad highlights Linda McMahon’s plan to get Connecticut’s economy back on track and create jobs. This is the U.S. Chamber’s first voter education campaign in the state. Of note:

• Linda has called for reducing middle-class tax rates
• She knows that the only way to create jobs is by lowering taxes on small businesses so they can grow
• From her experience in the private sector, she knows that free enterprise, not more government, will lead our economic recovery

You can watch the TV ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbTqStEMRug

Listen to the radio ad here: http://www.voteforjobs2012.com/race/senate/CT/“

And here’s the reaction from Murphy, back when the USCC recently endorsed McMahon:

“ROCKY HILL-As if challenging her own ability to simultaneously support extreme right-wing policies while publicly labeling herself as a moderate, Linda McMahon today bragged about her support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the nation’s most outspoken and prominent proponents of the Ryan Plan to privatize Medicare, tax cuts for millionaires, and companies that ship jobs overseas.

‘It’s no surprise that the national group that favors the Ryan plan to privatize Medicare, rolling back Wall Street reform, and new tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, would also support right-wing Republican Linda McMahon,’ said Murphy campaign spokesman Eli Zupnick. ‘McMahon desperately tries to hide her right-wing positions when she’s on the campaign trail, but when she brags about her support from national right-wing groups like this then Connecticut voters get a glimpse of her true colors.’

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is funded by a  handful of large, anonymous corporations, spends millions of dollars each year to support right-wing conservatives, and has worked extensively with Karl Rove’s American Crossroads organization to send far-right Republicans to Congress.  The Chamber relentlessly opposed crucial Wall Street protections for the middle class and supports American companies that send jobs overseas.

Additional Background

Chamber Supported Ryan Budget That Would Essentially End Medicare. “At a breakfast with reporters this morning, Bruce Josten, executive vice president for government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, praised House Budget chair Paul Ryan and his ‘Path to Prosperity’ budget outline, which was released earlier this week. ‘We think it is exactly the pathway to a trajectory to get the federal budget spending down to where it’s under control,’ Josten said. ‘This is not just touching the third rail, this is grasping the third rail.’” [Weekly Standard, 4/8/11]

Chamber Opposed Buffett Rule, Which Would Close Loopholes That Allow Millionaires And Billionaires To Pay A Lower Tax Rate Than Middle-Class Americans. “The Chamber of Commerce on Monday urged lawmakers not to vote for legislation pushed by President Obama that would ensure that the nation’s wealthiest pay a minimum tax rate. The powerful business group said it would score the vote on S. 2230, also called the ‘Buffett Rule.’”In April 2012, UPI reported that “the so-called ‘Buffett Rule’ that would make sure millionaires and billionaires do not pay a lower tax rate than middle-class taxpayers. It would raise the tax rate on investment income to 30 percent…The Buffett Rule would seek to close loopholes so the rich pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes.” [The Hill, 4/16/12; UPI, 4/10/12]

Chamber Of Commerce Supported Bush-Style Social Security Privatization Plan. According to the Chamber of Commerce’s website, “The only way to permanently strengthen Social Security is to transform the system into a program with real savings to back its promises to future retirees. The best way to do this is with a personal account component as President Bush and others have proposed.” [USChamber.com, accessed 5/9/12]“