The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce will oppose Amendment 47, the right-to-work measure backed by a batch of conservative business leaders.
The Denver chamber’s board voted this morning to accept the recommendation of its legislative policy committee. The vote was “close to unanimous,” chamber’s Tamra Ward said.
In doing so, the Denver chamber is taking an opposite route from the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, or CACI, recognized as the state chamber of commerce. CACI voted to back Amendment 47.
So now Jonathon Coors and his friends are facing an openly hostile DMCC in addition to absolutely woeful fundraising that has left the campaign in the red. How much longer will they continue to wage this Quixotic struggle? How much more money will Coors burn to keep this Titanic afloat? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Yesterday the group backing A47 vowed not to back down and not to negotiate in spite of union overtures. Today though we are witnessing the fracturing of the state's business community.
While CACI, the state's chamber of commerce, has chosen to back A47 the DMCC has proven itself to be more effective and politically relevant in recent years. The DMCC backed FasTracks and Ref C. and has been willing to work with Governor Ritter on a host of issues. They have clearly been the influential voice of business in the state over the last several years.
CACI though seems more preoccupied with waging mid-20th Century political battles than addressing any of the substantive issues facing Colorado. Is CACI even relevant any more? That's a legitimate question now. If A47 goes down in flames CACI will have done further damage their reputation and further isolated themselves from the political heavyweights and decision makers in Colorado.
CACI President Chuck Berry has over-played his hand. It couldn't be happening to a nicer bunch.
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