Thomas Donohue on 'FNS'

" This -- the US chamber of commerce launched a campaign for free enterprise. A hundred million dollar effort to fight what it calls. An avalanche of new rules restrictions mandates and taxes under President Obama. We're joined now by the Chamber's president Thomas Donahue and mr. -- welcome to Fox News Sunday. First question why this campaign do you really think that the free enterprise system is jeopardized by the Obama -- first -- of."

" Positive campaign it's the cornerstone of what we believe for a hundred years. We believe it's time to -- remind our own members many of whom are lining up for a stimulus. And remind congress. And remind of people across this country. That what creates the wealth what creates the jobs. In this country is a free enterprise system with free capital markets. With free trade and with the ability to fail or succeed -- on your wildest imagination. And we think it's time to go and do this but you obviously think there is some threat from the administration to go back to your quote. Avalanche of new rules restrictions mandates and taxes under President Obama I'm not sure that -- set under President Obama I think that sure I had. What we believe our biggest worry. Our biggest worry is the issue what the congress and then the follow on regulations -- do. Followed that we support him. The -- on stimulus we supported the top fund we supported issues that it's clear -- issues on. General Motors because this is the most extraordinary time. But now it isn't it a moment to say okay we've gone there. Now let's stop you can try and run these companies from the congress or from the administration. You've got to tell people where as the back door. We get our extraordinary issue and now it's time to get people back to work of that's how you create mr. -- people will side and they -- quite right you admitted it you support it. Billions in a bailout to financial companies use imported billions for the car companies is supported billions for economic stimulus and I guess I shut the door some -- say it's too light. Now I don't I think that would be -- not a very good conclusion. Everybody had to come to church on those issues when we are on the edge. Of going into an awful lot of conservatives who didn't come -- those that everybody that understood what was at stake let me say. And we did what we thought was right and now what we're saying having done that it's time for all of us that chamber -- members. Our government our congress. To take a breath and bring us back to the system -- creates the wealth. That creates the jobs and is going to enable us to put this economy back -- you know we're very very lucky. That we live in a land that has an enterprise system. That pick Texas as we go to put this put us back in business of creating jobs 25 million small companies. Critical we've got to get them some money are well let's talk about some of the big issues that are out there. We got from -- has spent time talking about the president's health care reform plan. Are there parts of that plan these huge cuts -- spending mandates on business. -- government. Public health insurance plan you going to support that no. We believe there ought to be a plan to improve the health care system in this country it's -- two point three trillion dollar business it's mostly new jobs and innovation in this country. And we believe we ought to do things to improve. The president is found and extraordinary amount of money once -- Medicare and Medicaid. And yet today senator Kennedy's bill is talking about putting everybody over 55. In the Medicaid no -- giant. In this country and in the Senate and we want to listen what he has to say and Max Baucus is the guy who's he's got two parts he -- the -- and yes the fund money. And he's a pro -- this but what we're saying there should be a bill that does wellness they should be a bill. That helps us perhaps have a mandate on individuals they should not be amended -- companies we now cover -- 170 million Americans. We and by the way if you're gonna do a federal plan I think you got a real problem because you've gone to. Have more opposition. To what we're trying to do -- and you can imagine. Because you're gonna put everybody else in a very difficult position in a non competitive is the administration appointed a pay a czar. This week when the government. -- your support. Say -- companies from going under don't taxpayers deserve some protection. From these companies paying executives huge salaries and huge -- you know Chris they appointed czar. And this here Securities and Exchange Commission is talking about a major program -- control compensation. The Federal Reserve is talking about this. I think it's time to stop and remember something. Those companies that are in some distress if they don't have good people -- run them that they can attract. Extraordinary people many of whom are going elsewhere at work. They -- in trouble and the government -- to stay out of the business of trying to set compensation in the private sector. It's wrong. It won't work and thinking about all these people that are trying it we're going to be on the other side so so -- saying if AIG wants to give million dollar bonuses Soviet. I'm saying if AIG -- a lot of trouble but I'm saying -- it took the right people. To fix AIG going to have to pay -- same thing right here in this network. You know if you lost -- you couldn't pay your very best people. I'm not sure -- stay they probably gonna win on the -- we're also not taking a huge bailout from the federal government. But I'm not particularly worried about those few companies that that the bail out. That'll work out I'm worried that when you put all these people in the compensation business they'll get -- in -- hurry inside going after every other company they think they should influence."

" What about the auto industry I mean again with the -- support. -- the General Motors. Was has been put into chapter eleven. And the US government now has a 60%. Ownership that you don't 60% of the company you -- you're gonna have members of congress I -- don't close the dealership in my state I went."

" To the Detroit economic club long before that happens said the only way out of this Wednesday. Bankruptcy try to get in the coveted do -- I didn't know that they would. -- take some of the steps they did I understand why they gave the union pension and welfare fund some ownership they'll sell that diary. But the government's got to get out of this -- scenario I told some people the White -- the other day. You won't it. And you better get some people that can run it. And you that it would -- the best because this is a serious problem I suggest it's all about people if you don't have the people you don't win. And I'm not how having a big fight about compensation I just think the government should do its part government should go out and get some more really good. Business people and bring him into the White House and treasury and -- way you look around there aren't any. And I think very very important understand if you don't have the horses. You don't have much of -- circus finally what about the status of labor's top priority union card check which would take away. The secret ballot in union organizing has not been pushed off till next year. I believe it's been pushed off for some time because they don't have the votes. And if you think about taking away the secret ballot and then having a mandatory arbitration. That says that somebody knows nothing about your business a going to set the conditions of work can pay in your company. I think the people up on the hill particularly the people in the Senate -- begin you think that's pretty sweet idea how."

" How would you was probably got less than a minute left mr. -- people who would say and I'm sure there are a lot of people out there it's a question that it. This guy didn't sit there and fight when we put billions -- financial sector -- General Motors. -- and the stimulus and now he wants to sit there and say well you know we took them and we allow the government to get involved in these industries but now we don't want them to run them."

" I I would say we did the responsible thing I would say that we know enough about the economy we knew about. Enough about the very serious position in this country within. That we went and we did the exception and now that we have done it and supported it and we're proud we did it. We believe it's time all of us including the American business community. -- go back to basics and say we've done our thing where is the backdoor it's time to get government out of business and get business back to work creating jobs. For workers and for -- company mr. Donahue we want to thank you so much for coming and please come -- of thank you very much."