Political Quotes

“I stand in this moment in opposition to the railroad antitrust amendment offered by my distinguished colleague, Senator Kohl, and I urge my fellow Senators to do likewise. As the Antitrust Modernization Commission noted in 2007, free market competition is the fundamental economic policy of the United States. In advancing this overarching policy goal, we should be wary of particularized exemptions from our Nation's antitrust laws. I know Senator Kohl shares my view in that regard. When properly applied, antitrust laws function to help ensure that market forces promote robust competition, spur innovation, and result in the greatest possible benefit to the American consumer. In many respects, Federal and State agencies enforce antitrust laws in order to forestall the need for burdensome and long-lasting government regulation. If competition thrives and market forces operate properly, there is no need for extensive government intrusion or interference. Likewise, when the antitrust laws do apply, comprehensive economic regulations should not dictate how an industry operates. It, therefore, makes little sense to impose upon a heavily regulated industry an additional layer of government oversight and enforcement through the application of antitrust laws while at the same time leaving in place a comprehensive regime of government oversight through economic regulation.…”