Topeka ? The Kansas Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee has endorsed Republican Atty. Gen. Phill Kline over his Democratic challenger, Johnson County Dist. Atty. Paul Morrison.

The chamber, with some 10,000 member businesses, is the state’s largest business organization. This is the first time the group’s PAC has endorsed a statewide candidate.

“Attorney General Kline is a forceful and articulate advocate for a stronger Kansas economy through positive legal reform,” Jay Allbaugh, chairman of the chamber’s legislative committee, said in a news release announcing the endorsement Thursday.

The PAC said it plans to endorse selected statewide candidates “who establish themselves as pro-business through their deeds and their actions.”

Kline said he directed his Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division to focus on helping consumers and businesses resolve differences without going to court.

“This has led to better understandings of each other’s needs and has reduced the number of consumer complaints filed annually,” Kline said in a written statement. “As attorney general, I have pushed for tort reform and rejected frivolous lawsuits proposed to me.”

Morrison campaign manager Mark Simpson said his candidate has a track record of being pro-business.

“Paul has shown he believes it is important to work cooperatively with businesses in Kansas, and as attorney general he will be an advocate for economic growth,” Simpson said. “As district attorney he works closely with businesses both in mediating consumer complaints and prosecuting white collar criminals who steal from business owners.”