FACT: Within the Chamber of Commerce, a well financed unit exists, The Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform (ILR). They have a single mission – “challenge [the trial lawyers] in the courts, in the voting booth, in the court of public opinion and in the state legislatures and Congress”.

FACT: U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing 3 million companies, associations, state and local chambers, and American Chambers of Commerce abroad has become a lobbying and political force with expanded influence across the globe.

FACT: ILR has won significant legal reforms in the courts, at the state and federal levels, and in elections for state attorneys general and Supreme Court judges.

FACT: The money is rolling in from drug companies, heavy manufacturers, large retailers, insurance companies, even banks.

The ILR strategies are simple and devastatingly effective:

• Attack Ads (Issue Ads / Voter Education)
• Whisper campaigns
• Mainstream media influence
• Creating their own media under the guise of legitimate news publications
• Allegations of election law violations

And with a budget of TENS of MILLIONS of dollars each year, they are getting results!