Senators Circling Antitrust Targets, But Not Yet Closing In

At a hearing of the Antitrust Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee today, Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) emphasized the need for broad antitrust reform. While she rallied bipartisan support to supplement antitrust budgets and encountered little opposition for helping news outlets bargain with social media, prospects for her sweeping S. 225, the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act remain uncertain.

Big tech and big business generally had few fans from left or right on the panel today, but Senators did not coalesce on the ambitious agenda Senator Klobuchar has laid out in S. 225. At the same time, however, Senator Klobuchar has indicated parts of the bill could move separately and she is committed to finding common ground with Republicans. Bottom line: with similar sentiments expressed last week in the Antitrust Subcommittee of the House Judiciary, some reforms could start advancing in both chambers.