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Show The Enterprise Review, November 10, 1976 Page 5b Does Demo Victory Spell Business Doom? by Dean Alsup Review Sta ff Writer Amid rumors that a Democratic administration and Congress will send American business to hell in a handbasket, the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is proclaiming that all is not as bad for business as it might appear. Yet, its not thatgood," admits Peter Cooke, the Chambers liaison between government and business. Assuming that business will do its part, all concerned will survive," he says. Business will have to implement a certain amount of self regulation, he said, and, naturally, Utah will smart for some time due to its lack of senior representation in Washington. Remain calm, and you might stay afloat." As director of government affairs for the Chamber, Cooke's job keeps him in constant contact with leaders of both worlds; business and government. Here, with insight gleaned from both camps, he examines Utahs representation in Washington and the effect the recent national election might have on our own business community. REVIEW: x For the first time since the administration of Lyndon Johnson, we have a Democratic President, a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House. Will our own business community be impacted by such strong y representation? one-part- COOKE: Very definitely. We have a new President who seems to be very consumer oriented. I think that consumer groups will look to President Carter for relief because the consumer movement has suffered under the Ford administration. Carter may tend to apparently feels better represented by Republicans Hatch and Gam, despite the loss of seniority power. Is that be REVIEW: cause the Republican platform tends to be more favorable toward business? COOKE: I dont think its as much the difference in platforms as it is the fact that Moss was labeled as more of a consumer advocate. He worked hard for consumers. He was also for labor. REVIEW: Did his voting record indicate that he was pro labor? COOKE: Yes it did. favor consumers more than business. Senator Moss, too was very concerned about For that the consumer. reason, many business people will be relieved that Sen. Moss wont be back in Washington. REVIEW: What about the loss of Sen. Moss position of seniority? COOKE: Im very concerned about the loss of Utahs seniority in Washington but we dont know whats going to happen. For such a long time we had senior One example was his support of common situs picketing which would have given Moss and Bennett and that representation will be missed for a while. But the business community here Marriot will have a difficult representation with both labor representatives the right to call men off a job if one union group wrent on strike at the same job site. Sen. Garn opposed that bill and I dont think Senator-elec- t Hatch would favor a labor movement like that. REVIEW: Will a Demo- cratic Senate and House be receptive to our freshman delegation from Utah? COOKE: Being fresh- man representatives, that Hatch, Garn I think and time. Gam is more familiar with what goes on in Congress but the major question is what can these new representatives do for Utah? They are not only freshmen, but they belong to the minority party to boot, and that places them in an even lower posi- tion. That concerns business people in Utah, Im sure, but its not going to be critical. I believe we have very capable In time representatives. they will overcome the problem of seniority. REVIEW: Are you concerned personally with what might happen before our new representatives learn the ropes?" COOKE: Yes, because a lot of Democratic bills are going to come up in the new Congress. The Clean Air Bill will come up again. If Sen. Muskie brings up that bill early in the next session, and Muskie is a member of the Senate leadership, our new delegation will have to prepare themselves for it very soon. I think the Democrats will strongly favor that bill and it will be difficult to fight. REVIEW: What stand do you think Marriott and Hatch will take on that bill? COOKE: I dont really know, but I suspect they will Continued on Page 6b AM CARGO to SAN FRANCISCO and LOS ANGELES Sunday thru Friday Next morning delivery in-bou- nd and out-boun- d ! Adetphic Cargo Enterprises Salt Lake International Executive Terminal Airport, (801) 533-081- 8 |