The Patriot Post® · Big Business Scrambling for Ex-Im Bank Renewal

The big-business end of the Republican Party really, really, really wants to keep the Export-Import Bank. Congress is heading off to August recess and the bank, which expired at the end of June, remains shuttered. Supporters of the bank that primarily subsidized big businesses like Boeing and General Motors hoped the Ex-Im would be jumpstarted by piggybacking on Congress’ highway spending bill. But it was not to be, and the advocates of the Ex-Im are taking political risks to keep the cash flowing their way. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is reportedly plotting to unseat several Republican lawmakers who helped shutter the Ex-Im in the GOP primaries, a first for the organization. This is more than fratricidal infighting: Instead of working with the Republican wage, the group plans on weeding out politicians that don’t conform to what it wants in a party. Boeing has also threatened to move its operation out of the U.S. if the bank is not restored. This is probably an empty threat, writes National Review’s Veronique De Rugy. First, that’s not what the company has told its investors. Secondly, De Rugby writes, “There may come a time when lawmakers will decide that the appropriate response to such threats isn’t to consider renewing the Ex-Im subsidies but to take away all the other subsidies that Boeing is getting.” The bark is loud, but press too hard for cash, and the big-business types may fall out of political favor.