Antitrust Chief Hits Resistance [From Obama Administration] in Crackdown

[MannyGoldstein]

From http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/business/26antitrust.html?_r=1&hp

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s top antitrust official and some senior Democratic lawmakers are preparing to rein in a host of major industries, including airline and railroad giants, moving so aggressively that they are finding some resistance from officials within the administration.

....

Democrats have spent years trying to gain the support of businesses, and the policy changes under way may have long-term political implications for their party. Some companies would like to see more aggressive antitrust enforcement against their rivals, while others could be hurt by it.

In some cases, though, the new approach is being opposed by administration officials. Some fear that the crackdown is coming at a bad time, as corporate America reels from the recession. Other officials embrace the Bush administration’s view that larger companies and industry alliances can provide consumer benefits by making their businesses more efficient.

[elleng]

1. Posted elsewhere, on this topic,

'Please understand that the 'competition' issues concerning air and rail are long-standing, have been related to political considerations for ages, and simply cannot be resolved quickly, either politically or legally. If you'd like to discuss those, you may pm me.'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3986369&mesg_id=3986398