WASHINGTON -- An annual survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is among Washington's most trusted and powerful influencers of public policy and business.
"Washington is going through historic changes but one thing remains the same, the strength and importance of America's business community," U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said. "We are committed to maintaining this strength by working with the new leaders in Washington-both in the White House and on Capitol Hill.
"We are making sure they know that it is business that drives the economy, provides the bulk of health care in this country, and much of the taxes that fund our government."
Of the 2,126 U.S. adults surveyed in the poll, 80 percent of those familiar with the U.S Chamber rated it as having either a "great deal" or "a fair amount" of power. More than 70 percent reported being familiar with the U.S. Chamber, and of those familiar, 72 percent said they have trust in the organization.
The Chamber, which owns The West Virginia Record, joins an elite group including The American Red Cross, AARP, and Consumer Reports as organizations receiving favorable rankings.
Once again this year, respondents ranked the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) as being among the least trusted organizations in Washington.
Of the 59 percent who reported familiarity with the ACLU, respondents rated it as the second most powerful and the second least trustworthy organization in Washington. Not to be outdone, the AFL-CIO was rated as both the most powerful and the least trustworthy of all major organizations in Washington.
The poll included 16 large organizations and was conducted online between November 10th and 17th. The complete poll is available at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=983.
The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
