Breakfast Meeting with Chamber of Commerce, July 26, 1988

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Extent (Dublin Core)

20 Pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

lead_392_030_all

Title (Dublin Core)

Breakfast Meeting with Chamber of Commerce, July 26, 1988

Date (Dublin Core)

1988-07-13/1988-07-27

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1988-07-13/1988-07-27

Congress (Dublin Core)

100th (1987-1989)

Policy Area (Curation)

Commerce

Creator (Dublin Core)

Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021

Record Type (Dublin Core)

correspondence

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=26&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 007, Box 392, Folder 30

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Republican Leadership Collection, 1985-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

(page 1)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

RICHARD W. RAHN
VICE PRESIDENT
CHIEF ECONOMIST

July 26, 1988

1615 H STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20062
202/(unintelligible)
463-5620

The Honorable Robert Dole
Hart Building - Room 141
Washington, D.C.

Dear Senator:

As always it was a great pleasure to see you this morning. Enclosed is the Privatization Task Force report which you requested. In the next few days I will be sending along the tax and spending papers along with the economic myths.

Best regards,
(signature)
Richard W. Rahn

enclosure

Attachment to Rich Belas

(page 2)

BOB DOLE
UNITED STATES SENATE

BOB DOLE
KANSAS

Dear Dick:

Again my thanks for pulling together the breakfast meeting with some of your members and staff. I appreciated the opportunity to be brought up to speed on the issues of concern to the Chamber and to hearing your views.

If I can ever be of assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,
(signature)
BOB DOLE

Dr. Richard Lesher, President
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20062

(page 3)

BOB DOLE
KANSAS

Dear John:

Thank you again for taking the time from your busy schedule to have breakfast with me. I enjoyed the opportunity to be brought up to speed on some of the issues of concern to the members of the Chamber.

Like you, I am anxious for the real debate on issues to occur between the presidential candidates. Hopefully when it does, Dukakis' liberal colors will become evident.

Let me know if I can ever be of assistance.

Sincerely,
(signature)
BOB DOLE

Mr. John L. Clendenin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Bell South Corporation
1155 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30375

(page 4)

BOB DOLE
KANSAS

Dear Ed:

Thank you again for taking the time from your busy schedule to join me for breakfast. I enjoyed hearing about the issues that are of particular concern to you and about the real impact of the tax cuts on your business.

If I can ever be of assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely,
(signature)
BOB DOLE

Mr. Edward Donley
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Allentown, Pennsylvania 8105

(page 5)

BOB DOLE
KANSAS

Dear Frances:

Thank you again for taking time from your busy schedule to join me for breakfast. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to hear your comments on the real impact of the tax cuts on small business.

If I can ever be of assistance, please let me know.

Sincerely,
(signature)
BOB DOLE

Ms. Frances Shaine, Chairman
SPM Manufacturing Corporation
28 Appleton Street
Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040

(page 6)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

July 27, 1988

RICHARD L. LESHER
PRESIDENT

1615 H STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20062
202/463-5300

The Honorable Robert Dole
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510

Dear Bob:

This is to express our genuine gratitude for the breakfast you hosted on July 26. We were very pleased to have the opportunity to go over some of our priority issues. In addition, we were very pleased that you included Pete Domenici and John McCain so that we could discuss matters pertaining to the deficit and the coming elections. All of us found the meeting to be most worthwhile and helpful.

We mentioned that we had sent to our members a quick analysis of the Democratic Platform. I am attaching a copy for your information. We intend to devote a good deal of effort to informing our members about the platforms of both parties and the views of both Presidential candidates in the coming months.

Again, Bob, many thanks for your courtesy. Please give my very best regards to Elizabeth.

Sincerely,
(signature)
Richard L. Lesher

Attachment
cc: Mr. Clendenin
Mr. Donley
Mrs. Shaine

(page 7)

(graphic in top left corner) MEDIA Top SHEET

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

July 1988

1988 DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

Key proposals:

o Keep raising the minimum wage by indexing it to inflation.

o Create more federal training and employment programs with child and health care for participants. There is no mention of how this is to be funded.

o Block privatization of Social Security.

o Limit business' rights to fight unionization.

o Halt deregulation of financial institutions.

o Enact "comparable worth" legislation that would allow the government -- not employers -- to set pay scales for job categories held mostly by women.

o Require employers to give parental leave and leave for care of ailing parents.

o Increase occupational safety regulations in the workplace and expand OSHA's enforcement powers.

o Let the federal government -- rather than the states -- control child care.

o Require advance notice of plant closings and major layoffs.

o Increase federal authority to block corporate mergers and takeovers.

o Have the government finance a college education for those unable to pay.

o Adopt the Equal Rights Amendment.

o Guarantee federal funding of abortion on demand.

o Promote a more aggressive legal services program for the poor.

o Set affirmative action quotas in hiring and promotions.

o Increase spending for public housing and other housing assistance.

o Provide more long-term home and health care and universal basic health insurance. The platform does not specify if this is to be paid for by the government or business.

o Enact tough new environmental laws, including a ban on most, if not all, offshore drilling.

o Create more and broader farm support programs paid for by the government and consumers.

o Repeal the Hatch Act which ended the spoils system for federal workers.

Media Relations Department - 1615 H St. N.W. - Washington, D.C. 20062 - (202) 463-5682

(page 8)

BREAKFAST MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
July 26, 1988 - 8:30 a.m. - S-230

(handwritten) all attended

John L. Clendenin
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
BellSouth Corporation
also Vice Chairman on the Board, U.S. Chamber
Atlanta, Georgia

Frances Shaine
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
SPM Manufacturing Corporation
also Chairman on the Board and Chairman of Council on Small Business, U.S. Chamber
Holyoke, Massachusetts

Edward Donley
Chairman, Executive Committee
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
also Member of Senior Council, U.S. Chamber
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Dr. Richard Lesher
President
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20062

Richard L. Breault
Group Vice President, Policy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

William T. Archey
Vice President, International
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Albert D. Bourland
Vice President, Congressional Relations
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Richard W. Rahn
Vice President and Chief Economist
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Senator Dole
Sheila Burke

(all handwritten)
JEFFREY JOSEPH - V-P
DOMESTIC POLICY

Senator Domenici

Senator McCain

Jann Olsten

(page 9)

BREAKFAST MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
July 26, 1988 - 8:30 a.m. - S-230

John L. Clendenin (handwritten) -(unintelligible) welfare reform - can it be done / when is the right time to ask tough ques. of Dukakis
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
BellSouth Corporation
also Vice Chairman on the Board, U.S. Chamber
Atlanta, Georgia

Francis Shaine (handwritten) -(unintelligible) among sm. business that tax cuts have not really helped. *thinks election dep. on independent votes
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
SPM Manufacturing Corporation
also Chairman on the Board and Chairman of Council on Small Business, U.S. Chamber
Holyoke, Massachusetts

Edward Donley (handwritten) - tax cuts have been very helpful - their business doing well
Chairman, Executive Committee
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
also Member of Senior Council, U.S. Chamber
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Dr. Richard Lesher (handwritten) -plant closing - winnable in house. (unintelligible) sm bus. - 2 yr budget good idea / privitizaion needs more attn good idea
President
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20062

Richard L. Breault (handwritten) -they have analyzed Dem. platform and distributed info.
Group Vice President, Policy U.S.
Chamber of Commerce

William T. Archey
Vice President, International
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Albert D. Bourland
Vice President, Congressional Relations
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Richard W. Rahn (handwritten) (RONHUT) (unintelligible) privitization -rept just (unintelligible) -got copy. fair fuze - proposal given to Bush
Vice President and Chief Economist
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Senator Dole
Sheila Burke

(all handwritten)
S. Domenici

-we need to make case on how we have really had a recovery

o Dole

-drought bill

-defense bill auth pushing veto

-are you doing voter push

o Domenici

-deficit- comment on greenspan disuse to hold growth to 2.5-3%

(page 10)

(all handwritten)
election overview

Sheila Burke

-got copy of their platform analyses

-Jan gave overview of sm. state strategy

(page 11)

July 25, 1988

MEMORANDUM

TO: SENATOR DOLE

FROM: SHEILA BURKE

SUBJECT: BREAKFAST MEETING: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Issues of Concern

There are no particular surprises -- the issues of concern are not unlike those you discussed with the NAM.

1. Parental Leave. The Labor Committee reported the bill out of Committee just prior to the July recess but the report has not yet been filed. The Chamber is, of course, opposed to any mandates on employers. The bill as drafted applies to firms with 20 or more employees -- so many small businesses will be covered. (handwritten) -Cochran - come to Chamber - willing to lead filibuster

2. Minimum Wage. Of greatest concern to the Chamber, is the attempt to increase the minimum wage. Unlike the NAM members, changes in the minimum wage will have an impact on a number of their members.

3. Mandated Benefits. As is the case with parental leave, the Chamber is violently opposed to any benefit mandates -- they are particularly concerned with health insurance requirements as they are likely to be the most costly.

(handwritten check mark) 4. Trade Bill. The Association is opposed to the plant closing provisions, but otherwise mixed on the bill itself. They do, as an association, support the U.S. - Canada Free Trade Agreement, although they acknowledge that some of their members are adversely affected.

5. Tax Issues. The Chamber was concerned about a proposal considered by the Ways and Means Committee to tax otherwise tax-exempt organizations on their profits from business activities not directly related to this tax-exempt purpose. E.g., museum souvenir shops, hospital gift shops, YMCA health club activities, and organizations selling insurance to their members.

The Chamber itself is a tax-exempt organization, but on the other side, NFIB and many small businesses have argued that

(page 12)

-2-

they suffer from unfair competition from tax-exempt organizations.

However, the proposal was dropped by the full Ways and Means Committee. No one in the Finance Committee, has shown any interest in it.

The jargon for this issue is "UBIT." It stands for "unrelated business income tax."

(page 13)

July 25, 1988

MEMORANDUM

TO: SENATOR DOLE

FROM: SHEILA BURKE

SUBJECT: BREAKFAST MEETING: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Issues of Concern

There are no particular surprises -- the issues of concern are not unlike those you discussed with the NAM.

1. Parental Leave. The Labor Committee reported the bill out of Committee just prior to the July recess but the report has not yet been filed. The Chamber is, of course, opposed to any mandates on employers. The bill as drafted applies to firms with 20 or more employees -- so many small businesses will be covered.

2. Minimum Wage. Of greatest concern to the Chamber, is the attempt to increase the minimum wage. Unlike the NAM members, changes in the minimum wage will have an impact on a number of their members.

3. Mandated Benefits. As is the case with parental leave, the Chamber is violently opposed to any benefit mandates -- they are particularly concerned with health insurance requirements as they are likely to be the most costly.

4. Trade Bill. The Association is opposed to the plant closing provisions, but otherwise mixed on the bill itself. They do, as an association, support the U.S. - Canada Free Trade Agreement, although they acknowledge that some of their members are adversely affected.

5. Tax Issues. The Chamber was concerned about a proposal considered by the Ways and Means Committee to tax otherwise tax-exempt organizations on their profits from business activities not directly related to this tax-exempt purpose.
E.g., museum souvenir shops, hospital gift shops, YMCA health club activities, and organizations selling insurance to their members.

The Chamber itself is a tax-exempt organization, but on the other side, NFIB and many small businesses have argued that

(page 14)

-2-

they suffer from unfair competition from tax-exempt organizations.

However, the proposal was dropped by the full Ways and Means Committee. No one in the Finance Committee, has shown any interest in it.

The jargon for this issue is "UBIT." It stands for "unrelated business income tax."

(page 15)

BREAKFAST MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
July 26, 1988 - 8:30 a.m. - S-230

John L. Clendenin
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
BellSouth Corporation
also Vice Chairman on the Board, U.S. Chamber
Atlanta, Georgia

Frances Shaine
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
SPM Manufacturing Corporation
also Chairman on the Board and Chairman of Council on Small Business, U.S. Chamber
Holyoke, Massachusetts

Edward Donley
Chairman, Executive Committee
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
also Member of Senior Council, U.S. Chamber
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Dr. Richard Lesher
President
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20062

Richard L. Breault
Group Vice President, Policy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

William T. Archey
Vice President, International
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Albert D. Bourland
Vice President, Congressional Relations
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Richard W. Rahn
Vice President and Chief Economist
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Senator Dole
Sheila Burke

(all handwritten)
SENATOR DOMINICI

JEFFREY JOSEPH - V-P
DOMESTIC POLICY

SENATOR MCCAIN

(page 16)

TO: JOYCE

FROM: MARC SOLOMON

SUBJECT: SPM MFG. CORP.

SPM MFG. CORP.
28 Appleton St., Holyoke, Mass. 01040
Tel. 413-534-3371

· Chrm-Frances Shaine
· Pres-Robert Shaine
· Exec V.P & Treas-William Shaine
· V-P (Mktg)-Geoffrey LaFond
· V-P (Mfg)-Joseph Wilcox
Cont-Christina Humphrey
Purch Agt-Pat Jarrett

Sales: $25Mil Employees: 450

*Also DIRECTORS
PRODUCTS: Photo albums, scrap books, converted paper products, leather products, calendars & diaries, briefcases, desk accessories

S.I.C. 2782; 2672: 2675; 2679; 3172

SPM Manufacturing Corporation, based in Holyoke, Massachusetts, produces photo albums, scrap books, converted paper products, calendars, leather products, and other stationery-related items. It employs 450 and takes in $25 million in sales per year.

Most notable about the company is its chairman, Frances Shaine, who has overseen a large expansion since she took over in 1980. Shaine developed a strategy of expansion for the family-owned company in which she sought to obtain more sales outlets through acquisitions. In carrying out this plan, she succeeded in gaining access to finer stationery and department stores for their products. She also oversaw the development of new products, like bonded-leather covers for photo albums. Since her arrival, employment has grown by more than 100%.

Shaine, in 1987, served as Chairman of the Small Business Council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 1987 in that capacity, she testified against Senator Dodd's parental leave bill at a Senate Subcommittee on Labor hearing .. She said that because a small company has just a certain amount in its benefits budget, a law mandating a particular benefit would cut into monies available for other benefits, to the detriment of employees.

(page 17)

(drawn out rectangle table layout)

12 CHAIRS

(top side) CLENDENIN SHAINE DONLEY ARCHEY

(left head of table) DOLE

(right head of table) BOURLAND BURKE

(bottom side) LESHER DOMENICI BREAULT RAHN

(page 18)

July 20, 1988

TO: SENATOR DOLE

FROM: SHEILA BURKE

RE: BREAKFAST MEETING WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Attached is the list from the Chamber of Commerce for the breakfast meeting on Tuesday, July 26 at 8:30 a.m.

Do you wish to invite the following senators?

(handwritten) wcb (text) Senator Weicker - Small Business Committee

(handwritten) NO (text) Senator Packwood - tax/technicals/trade

(handwritten) NO (text) Senator Specter - Pennsylvania

(handwritten) OK (text) Senator Domenici - deficit

(handwritten) wcb (text) Senator Danforth - trade/communications

(handwritten) wcb (text) Senator Boschwitz - campaign committee

(unintelligible handwriting on right side)

(page 19)

U. S. Chamber of Commerce

1615 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20062
202/463-5417

July 13, 1988

(The Spirit of Enterprise, U.S. Chamber of Commerce logo)

Richard L. Breault
Group Vice President
Policy

Ms. Joyce McCluney
Office Manager
Senator Robert Dole's Office
Room S-230
Capitol Building Washington, D. C. 20510

Dear Joyce:

This is to follow up on our telephone conversation of yesterday.

The U.S. Chamber is very pleased we will be meeting Senator Dole for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on July 26 in Room S-230 of the Capitol Building.

Our group will include the following:

(handwritten check mark) John L. Clendenin. Mr. Clendenin is Vice Chairman of our Board and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, BellSouth Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

(handwritten check mark) Edward Donley. Mr. Donley is a member of the Senior Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Chairman, Executive Committee, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Richard L. Lesher, President, U.S. Chamber.

Richard L. Breault, Group Vice President, Policy, U.S. Chamber.

William T. Archey, Vice President, International, U.S. Chamber.

Albert D. Bourland, Vice President, Congressional Relations, U.S. Chamber.

Jeffrey H. Joseph, Vice President, Domestic Policy, U.S. Chamber.

Dr. Richard W. Rahn, Vice President and Chief Economist, U.S. Chamber.

(page 20)

-2-

Our current Chairman of the Board, William S. Kanaga, regrets that another commitment will not make it possible for him to meet with the Senator.

I will await a call from Sheila Bourke to learn more about the Senator's thoughts on the agenda, as well as who else might attend the breakfast in addition to the Senator and Sheila.

In any event, our delegation will certainly be prepared to discuss some of the priority issues facing the business community now and in the near future.

Many thanks for the invitation and your help.

Sincerely,
(signature)
Richard L. Breault

(all handwritten)
Francis Shaine

(unintelligible) and CEO

SPM Manuel Corp

Holyoke, Mass

(unintelligible) on board

(unintelligible) Council of small business

Breakfast Meeting with Chamber of Commerce, July 26, 1988

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