The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was guardedly optimistic about the nation’s economy for 2008 and will focus its efforts this year on issues such as the subprime mortgage crisis and the nation’s aging infrastructure.
“In prior years, we’ve been able to describe the state of the American economy … in a single word or phrase. Not this year,” said U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas Donohue during a media briefing Tuesday. “There are both positive and negative signs.”
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Donohue predicted that the economy would not go into a recession this year, however, and could pick up steam in the second half of the year.
“In other words, we will dodge the bullet,” Donohue said.
Despite the fact that 2008 is an election year, Donohue said the chamber expects some legislative successes, such as the ratification of trade agreements and some legal reform measures.
The group’s legislative priorities for the year include improving health information technology, expansion of visa programs to fill specific job shortages and the current housing crisis, he said. The chamber is also developing a national energy plan to present to political candidates for consideration.
“Our voter education campaign is the most aggressive in our history,” he said, adding it will eclipse the last $60 million campaign done by the organization and reach 140 congressional districts, focusing on close races.
