Hey everyone, this is Patrick Hedger, TPA’s VP of Policy, writing to you this week about launch of our new project, the Government Antitrust Accountability Project. Antitrust is at the tip of tongues on both sides of the aisle and just about all of the proposals we’ve seen should have taxpayers and consumers extremely concerned. Therefore, as a taxpayer and consumer advocate group we are compelled to weigh in. However, we’ve decided to take a unique approach: highlighting how big tech powers small business.
As you might expect, we’re absolutely going to be researching and writing about all things antitrust. In addition, we’ll be driving our audience to the resources on antitrust we value the most, such as our friends at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Global Antitrust Institute, the International Center for Law and Economics, and the Alliance on Antitrust. We believe it is critical that our current understanding of antitrust law, grounded in the consumer welfare standard, remains intact. This is at the core of the “accountability” part of the Government Antitrust Accountability Project. Antitrust law unmoored from the consumer welfare standard opens the door for politicians and unelected bureaucrats to undemocratically ram through all sorts of policy goals via a stranglehold on investments, innovations, and mergers and acquisitions that power our economy. We cannot let this happen.
At the moment, the focus of antitrust ire is on “big tech.” Rest assured, this is just a proving ground for the radical new approach described above. Thus, the pushback has to occur here and now. Our approach involves telling the story of small businesses. Talking about small business may seem counterintuitive when it comes to pushing back on antitrust efforts, but the reality is that the economy is an ecosystem. The big and small businesses all interact with one another and depend on each other like symbiotic organisms. Sure there are predators and prey, but there are plenty of examples of plants and animals that depend on one another in the wild. We’re interested in making sure politicians know the latter occurs in the economy as well.
We have interviewed and continue to reach out to small businesses of all sorts, from a veteran-owned winery and brewery tour company in Loudon County, VA to a t-shirt club started in Amish country, OH, to have them share their stories on how they’ve leveraged “big tech” platforms to grow, and even save, their businesses. These are especially important stories to tell in the time of Covid-19. Arbitrarily cutting down or limiting the size and scope of the platforms, a.k.a. markets these entrepreneurs are able to access isn’t sound competition policy. Like so many policies we evaluate at TPA, aggressive antitrust action and reform will undoubtedly harm the people purported to be helped. We think it is long past time for these entrepreneurs to have a seat at the table when discussing the future or technology, innovation, and antitrust policy.
With that, please watch our first interview with Renee Ventrice, owner of Cork and Keg Tours. I have no doubt it will make you as hopeful about the future of free enterprise in America as it did for me. Check out everything else described above at our new website: antitrustaccountability.org
Full interview below!
BLOGS:
Monday: New 5G Report Predicts Economic Boom from Next Generation of Wireless
Tuesday: Watchdog Praises Postmaster General DeJoy for First Quarter Net Gain
Wednesday: Op-Ed: Florida man DeSantis tries to stifle speech
Thursday: Watchdog Launches Government Antitrust Accountability Project to Highlight the Importance of Big Tech
TPA in the News:
February 4, 2021: WPFO-TV (Portland, Maine) quoted TPA in their story, “I-Team: Dozens of fake farms in Maine get millions in taxpayer disaster aid.”
February 5, 2021: Townhall.com ran TPA’s op-ed, “Critics Decry GASB Standards That Allow Governments to Hide Debt.”
February 5, 2021: Patrick appeared on Connecticut Today Radio to talk about the minimum wage hike.
February 5, 2021: The San Marcos Courier News (San Marcos, Calif.) mentioned TPA in their article, “Group Calls On Governor, Legislature To End Texas Enterprise Fund, Cut Taxes Instead.”
February 5, 2021: Government Executive mentioned TPA in their article, “Democrats Reintroduce Bill to Protect Employees Who Blow the Whistle on COVID Funds Misuse.”
February 7, 2021: Patrick appeared on Weekend Radio Talk with Tron Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colorado) to discuss the minimum wage hike.
February 8, 2021: WBFF-TV (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story, “Proposed pay would make DPW Director one of city's top paid.”
February 8, 2021: Patrick appeared on the Charlie James Radio Show (Greeneville, South Carolina) to discuss the minimum wage hike.
February 8, 2021: David appeared on WBOB 600 AM (Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about the next COVID relief plan.
February 8, 2021: WBFF-TV (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed David about President Biden’s executive orders.
February 9, 2021: KTVO-TV (Kirksville, Iowa) quoted TPA in their story, “With coronavirus origins becoming more clear, questions remain on best path forward.”
February 9, 2021: WJAC-TV (Altoona, Pa.) quoted TPA in their story, “With coronavirus origins becoming more clear, questions remain on best path forward.”
February 9, 2021: Patrick appeared on The Jim Bohannon Radio Show (Washington, D.C.) to talk about the minimum wage hike.
February 9, 2021: Patrick appeared on Rush to Reason Radio Show (Denver, CO) to talk about the minimum wage hike.
February 9, 2021: KTXS-TV (San Angelo, Texas) quoted TPA in their story, “With coronavirus origins becoming more clear, questions remain on best path forward.”
February 9, 2021: David appeared on KRC Radio (Cincinnati, Ohio) to talk about NASA and the United States Postal Service.
February 9, 2021: WCYB-TV (Bristol, Va.) quoted TPA in their story, “With coronavirus origins becoming more clear, questions remain on best path forward.”
February 9, 2021: WKEF- TV (Miamisburg, Ohio) quoted TPA in their story, “With coronavirus origins becoming more clear, questions remain on best path forward.”
February 9, 2021: The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Congress must account for unused COVID funds.”
February 11, 2021: Issues & Insights ran TPA’s op-ed, “Trust But Verify China’s Newfound Commitment To Intellectual Property Concerns.”
February 11, 2021: WBFF-TV (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed David about the Kirwan Commission.
Have a great Presidents' Day weekend!
Best,
Patrick Hedger
Vice President of Policy
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
1401 K Street, NW
Suite 502
Washington, D.C. xxxxxx
www.protectingtaxpayers.org
