The Kansas Chamber on Friday was criticized by Lt. Gov. John Moore as an organization that has hindered economic development in the state.

Moore, attending a meeting of the Lawrence-Douglas County Economic Development Board, said the state chamber’s legislative platform criticizing the state’s business climate had been a hindrance when trying to recruit businesses to Kansas.

“We’ve at times had to overcome what our own state chamber was saying about our state,” Moore said. “That is a hard rap to overcome, but we’ve talked with them about it.”

Moore made his comments after Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway, who is a member of the Lawrence-Douglas County Economic Development Board, asked Moore for his thoughts on the chamber.

“I think it is frustrating to see efforts from that group that seem to work against economic development rather than foster it,” Hemenway said.

During the past legislative session, the chamber released studies and surveys it commissioned that showed Kansas didn’t measure up with other states in areas of workers’ compensation policy, unemployment issues and legal reform. The chamber also was a vocal opponent of proposed tax increases to boost education funding.

Jim Gregory, a spokesman for the Topeka-based organization, said the chamber’s positions accurately reflected the opinion of its 7,500 members, which are mainly Kansas small-business owners.

“We’re all about making the state better and trying to make it the best in the country for businesses,” Gregory said. “We feel like we’re in the middle of the pack, and in order to move to the top of the pack, the state has to make some improvements.”

Gregory also said several chamber-backed initiatives, including changes to the state’s unemployment system and tort reform, were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor.

Moore, though, said many of the chamber’s arguments were off-base, particularly in the area of worker’s compensation, where several studies have shown Kansas to have one of the most affordable systems in the nation.

“I think they brought a boilerplate argument to Kansas that just didn’t fit,” Moore said. “The state chamber was shrill in its criticism last year. I think we’ll see a different approach by the state chamber this year. At least, I certainly hope so.”

Gregory said the chamber would continue to voice the opinions of its members.

“I think the members have been clear for the last year and half or two years that they want the state to have a much better business climate,” Gregory said.