U.S. Chamber spends big to defeat conservative

Less than a week before the Republican primary in Kansas’ 1st Congressional District, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has thrown its support behind physician Roger Marshall in his bid to defeat Rep. Tim Huelskamp. The chamber’s political arm is spending $200,000 on ads to support Marshall and another $200,000 on ads to oppose Huelskamp. Huelskamp, first elected in the tea party wave of 2010, is a rare Republican whom the chamber is working to defeat. “I can’t think of an example where we have actively and aggressively opposed a Republican incumbent in Congress,” said Rob Engstrom, the chamber’s national political director. Tuesday’s “Big First” race is one of the most competitive primaries in the country. The candidates are in a virtual tie when it comes to polls and fundraising...more

 So why would the U.S. Chamber of Commerce oppose an incumbent Republican  in the primary?  Is he a big spending liberal who wants to grow the size of government?  Not hardly.

Last year, Huelskamp voted against reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, a federal credit agency that helps U.S. companies export their goods overseas. Conservatives call it a form of “crony capitalism” that props up large companies such as Boeing. He was one of 65 Republicans to oppose the FAST Act, the first long-term transportation reauthorization bill in a decade. Republican Reps. Mike Pompeo of Wichita and Kevin Yoder of Overland Park also voted against it. Huelskamp also opposed budget and spending bills the chamber supported. He opposes a comprehensive immigration overhaul that includes a path to citizenship for those who are in the U.S. illegally.

No, they're going after a tea party type Republican who voted against subsidies for big business like the Export-Import Bank and against huge new spending proposals like the transportation bill (see U.S. Chamber Plans $100 Million Campaign Against Conservatives). The chamber is pushing hard for the big spending establishment.
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