New AFP Ad Campaign Urges Bipartisan Group of Senators Not to Politicize Antitrust Enforcement

Mar 29, 2019 by AFP

ARLINGTON, Va. – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today launched an ad campaign urging bipartisan members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose politicized antitrust enforcement against American tech companies. The targeted ad campaign comes on the heels of comments by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) who advocated for “breaking up” many of America’s largest tech firms.

The ads are slated to run in each senator’s states as well as in Washington, D.C. over the next two weeks. The ads direct users to a web page highlighting Senator Warren’s comments and allow them to send emails to each member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Click here to view the page.

Click here to view a sample ad

Americans for Prosperity Senior Tech Policy Analyst Billy Easley issued the following statement:

“If we use antitrust law to punish successful competitors, we eliminate incentives for innovation. Government should not be empowered to pick winners and losers in the marketplace. To prevent a politicization of an important process, antitrust decisions should be made by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice — not by political leaders campaigning for elected office. We want to remind lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that antitrust law exists to protect consumers, not to be used as a political weapon.”

Background on AFP’s opposition to the politicization of antitrust enforcement:

Competition in the marketplace is the best check on the power of individual firms. Americans win when businesses compete for customers, and the more competition, the better. But politicizing antitrust takes regulatory power away from the proper enforcement agencies and gives it to politicians. If unconstrained by economic analysis and a focus on consumer welfare, antitrust law can easily be wielded by favor-seeking businesspeople and their allies in the political arena. Irresponsibly using antitrust enforcement as a weapon against America’s tech companies would be a clear abuse that undermines its intended purpose.

For further information or to set up an interview, please send an email to GBraud@afphq.org.

Through broad-based grassroots outreach, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is driving long-term solutions to the country’s biggest problems. AFP activists engage friends and neighbors on key issues and encourage them to take an active role in building a culture of mutual benefit, where people succeed by helping one another. AFP recruits and unites activists in 35 states behind a common goal of advancing policies that will help people improve their lives. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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