Justice Dept. Cracks Down On Big Business

Antitrust Division Blames Economic Woes On Lack Of Enforcement In Bush Years

(AP)  The Justice Department warned corporate America on Monday that the government will aggressively investigate big firms that improperly dominate markets.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney said the department is abandoning legal guidelines put in place by the Bush administration in September 2008. Critics complained the earlier set of instructions made it difficult to pursue antitrust cases against big firms.

Varney laid out the new policy in a speech to the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank.

She said some of the problems in the current economy were due to the lack of enforcement in the previous 10 years--a clear jab at the Bush administration, which, she said, raised too many hurdles to antitrust investigations.

“There was a high cost to standing aside. We must change course and take a new tack,” said Varney.

She said her remarks weren't aimed at any particular company, but wanted all big companies to get the message.

“Look, when you become successful and you have market power, however you define it, you need to pay attention to the rules,” said Varney.

The new rules are “the clearest way to let everyone know that the Antitrust Division will be aggressively pursuing cases where monopolists try to use their dominance in the marketplace to stifle competition and harm consumers,” she said.

The decision would reset the government's antitrust policies to be more in line with those of the Clinton administration, which brought a major action against Microsoft.

Varney said the Obama administration would try to follow the historic lessons of The Great Depression, in pursuing antitrust cases even in a troubled economy.

[dfnj2009]

The era of legislated cartels and monopolies is coming to an end.

All our manufacturing jobs have shipped to China, all our computer jobs have gone to India, and the CEOs and top 1% hire illegals through sub-contracting for everything else. Republicans are addicted to Chinese slave labor like crack ****** on heroin.

Support choice and a free market: Let Medicaid policies be available for ALL Americans to purchase!!!

But don't worry, as soon as the Chinese Yuan is allowed to float against the dollare ALL our CEO jobs will be outsourced!!!!!

[choptanktoo]

The healthcare insurance industry oligarchy is a fine place to start. Perhaps, our President has already applied the pressure. (Does anyone willingly forego 2 trillion dollars in profits?)
"The Justice Department warned corporate America on Monday that the government will aggressively investigate big firms that improperly dominate markets" ...."The new rules are ?the clearest way to let everyone know that the Antitrust Division will be aggressively pursuing cases where monopolists try to use their dominance in the marketplace to stifle competition and harm consumers,? lol

[joel178]

COME TO ROCHESTER NY
WE have 1 cable company

[Dgunner]

When you shop at walmart . You are spitting on the memory and the duty that our vfws fought and died to prevent. communism in all forms.

[Dgunner]

Walmart is free to build anywhere the chose. The american citizens who shop there are treasonist . The families of deceased veterans of foriegn wars whom fought and died to stop communism in all forms. These people should hang thier heads in shame. They pray on sunday morning in the churches for God to bless the United States. Then they leave thier churches and spend thier money with communistic company operating under the guise of free enterprise. NOTHING IS FREE .

[stryker54]

Do any of you consider all politictions are in the same bed, Rep and Dem. We need to have none of the above on the ballots. All the lawmakers in the house and senate are above the law and crooks, after all the majority are lawyers, I mean Liars.

[knyghtwolf]

I see some of that good ole' boy stupidity in these columns just never stops dropping their drawers and showing off Stubby in terms of intellect. DOJ is coming down on businesses that HIRE ILLEGALS, along with those same businesses that SEEK THEM OUT THROUGH ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT BROKERS. Illegals are being are being moved to small towns, small communities such as trailer parks, places that are basically ignored until something happens, Sun Communities. Inc. is such a corporation that is giving "free" housing to illegals in their communities for kickbacks involving ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING. Start sending the DOJ the proof and see what happens.....

[dkhenk]

Now we will penalize a business because they did good and became "Big Business". Who do you think will pay for all this spending?? Thats right "big business"!

[retiredgustav]

We can start with the big oil companies. The last time I look out on the Gulf of Mexico off of Galveston, the tankers we backed up half way to the middle east.

[TrinityIsMyName]

Where are the strawberries, I know their here? The guy really comes off like a nut case - let him undo himself - but in a rubber room. A patriot he is not.

[starleo146]

How Dare Cheney say he would side with Rush L. and not with General Powell a deserving 4 star general who gave his service to this country. These Republicans have no right to criticize Wanda Sykes and her comments and say nothing about Cheney 's ridicule of General Powell

[starleo146]

Has anyone noticed how many executive orders and laws that Bush made that we have to undue because they were unconstitutional and in some cases illegal he could accomplish so much if he took over on Jan.20th and allowed to do his job, but no a failing economy and dealing with Republican and there answer and help is NO and Darth Vader undermining his authority by his remarks about our President who was elected by the people not the Supreme Court. I for once know why Bushs' hair got so gray so fast,it was Darth Vader making him do what Darth wanted. He will not give up he still thinks he can rule the world, and I think he is a danger to all us with his rhetoric. Who does he think he is MULAR what ever his name is.We asked several times where is Cheney, we never heard from him while in office, and now we know don't we? What he did to Valerie Plame and this country he is a disgrace to all of us.

[quapawsix]

Watch out Wally World

[sjc_1]

If laws were broken and crimes committed, they should be brought to justice. It is not a matter of whether your friends in high places that you helped put there are looking the other way. This is a rule of law country and when laws are broken, no one is above the law.

[DefendLiberty]

"Antitrust Division Blames Economic Woes On Lack Of Enforcement In Bush Years".

Really? YA THINK?

Today's GOP: Crooks, liars, and sociopaths who only represent the greedy rich and the GOP's corporate sponsors. An average American with a serious illness? The GOP answer is CRAWL OF AND DIE unless you can afford to pay the HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY for insurance they will revoke if you get really sick.

[endurorob]

Varney said the Obama administration would try to follow the historic lessons of The Great Depression, in pursuing antitrust cases even in a troubled economy.


Sounds like a plan. Can we also start more aggressively pursuing businesses that hire illegals and pursue the illegals themselves?

[ianlou]

Concidering the depth of the current Recession and the damage it has done to the stock market and Big Business, I wonder how many big wigs still believe in the total hands off, anything goes policies of the Bush Administration.

Big Business screwwed the middle class for a decade. The middle class is currently screwwing back by not buying anything.

With Bush's help Big Business shot themselves in the foot.