Missouri Chamber of Commerce Endorses Hulshof For Governor

Today in St. Louis, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce's PAC announced its endorsement of Congressman Kenny Hulshof for governor.  Is it time for the rest of us to throw our support behind one candidate so that we can focus on defeating Jay Nixon in November?

Here's the announcement from the chamber's website:

ST. LOUIS — Missouri’s largest and strongest business coalition is supporting U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof for governor.

Hulshof has earned the backing of the Missouri Chamber Political Action Committee, affiliated with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, through his outstanding support of business during his career as a public servant.

The Missouri Chamber PAC’s endorsement was announced this afternoon at the Hunter Engineering Company in St. Louis.

“With the nation currently weathering a difficult economy, Missouri needs a governor who recognizes that a thriving business community is the starting point to the state’s overall success,” said Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. “As a farmer and small businessman, Kenny Hulshof intimately understands the challenges that companies are facing today. Through his vocal support of business and his vote record during his six terms in Congress, Kenny Hulshof has proven his commitment to helping Missouri’s economy prosper, which benefits everyone in the state.”

Hulshof’s work in Congress includes cutting taxes, striving to repeal the death tax, helping reduce stifling federal small business requirements, working toward stopping lawsuit abuse, as well as reforming tort and class action litigation. His efforts have earned him a 95 percent cumulative rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a 100 percent rating from the National Association of Manufacturers over the last four years, putting him among the nation’s finest pro-business lawmakers.

In his campaign for governor, Hulshof has pledged to not raise taxes as well as protect Missouri’s hard-fought tort reform and workers’ compensation legislation passed in 2005. He has also discussed his desire to create greater collaboration between the state’s local leaders and colleges and universities toward Missouri’s economic development efforts.

“In recent years, Missouri has made tremendous strides toward improving its business climate. But whoever becomes governor will set the course for our economic future,” Mehan said. “Electing Kenny Hulshof would keep our state on this positive trajectory.”

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry (www.mochamber.com) was founded in 1923 and is the largest business association in Missouri, representing almost 3,000 employers that provide more than 425,000 jobs for Missourians.