No, it's an old game...corporate welfare. The Chamber doesn't care about oppressive regulations and taxes, they just want free stuff. That's why they support both parties.
I've been around the dance floor with them on that.
I remember when the Irving city council debated funding for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, all the speakers were hispanics talking about the great work it did and how they used the money to support small hispanic-owned businesses. Then the members of the council one by one praised the HCC and said they would support the funds. They all pandered to the hispanics - it was sickening.
Finally it was the Mayors (also a council member here) turn and she waited until last on purpose. She talked about going to Fort Worth, it has a big and vibrant Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and it receives zero tax dollars. Why does this much smaller organization need tax dollars?
She made some really good points and said she would oppose the funding, even though it was already going to pass almost unanimously (all others voted for it).
Irving’s mayor - Beth Van Duyne - has real principles.